Last night, as I was hugging my son goodnight, he shared, “You’re skin used to be softer.” Love you too, darling! But he’s not alone. A while back, my daughter walked in after I’d stepped out of the shower, catching an eye-full of my backside. Her comment, “Oh, Momma.” And it wasn’t a, “Oh, Momma, we need to start walking.” No, this was more like, “Oh, Momma, I’m so sorry you lost your leg in the war.”
When my husband turned fifty, I made a horror film for him. (Camp Reformation – went straight to DVD). At the end, the killer is revealed. She wears a sweatshirt marked “50.” When her twin (the non-evil one) asks her why she’s murdered all the teenage campers, the psycho explains, “Because getting old is a bitch!”
Oh, I thought that was a great line at the time (I was forty-two.) Turns out…not so funny. Truth never is.
Yes, from an emotional standpoint, aging is a wonderful thing. You’ve lived through enough experiences to know that life is cyclical, that there are tough patches, but they will pass. You begin to understand what’s worth arguing about or accepting and moving on. You look at supposedly mundane activities – the family sitting around the table, eating spaghetti and not arguing – and realize it’s a special moment.
But the physical side is harsh. As my daughter made VERY clear, hineys do not age like fine wine. Now, when my peers talk about their implants, they’re referring to dental work, which is probably for the best. Let’s face it, at a certain point, breast augmentations are a little ridiculous. I mean if you take an old, sagging pillow case filled with flour, then add a grapefruit, is it really going to look any better?
Fortunately, I’ve been blessed with a wonderful husband that eases the pain of this downhill journey. Maybe he’s delusional or just a very smart man, but he 
still tells me I have a great body. Of course, there’s also the fact that he’s legally blind without his glasses. Doesn’t really matter. As long as those babies come off before I put on the Barry White, I can put JLo to shame.
Chris Campillo 
This is just great Chris!! And so darn true. But you — you look fantastic. Don’t believe your children.
Says the woman who first met me on Skype after I’d been at the pool!
Loved your blog today! Too funny. (Hey, you still got it!)
The secret is to not look at photographs.
Loved your story! Coming at just the right time !
Sent from my iPhone
Glad to hear it. Miss you.
As always, you’ve given me a big chuckle. “Oh, Momma.” Seriously, I’d kill for your figure. I don’t even want to think what my daughter would say if she saw me naked. Probably something like, “OMG, now I have to poke my eyes out. I can’t take a chance on ever see something that gruesome again!”
You’re funny. You know it’s the writing. We sit on our rear all day long. Speaking of which, when is your next book coming out?
Too funny, Chris! And Nan is right, you do look fantastic.
I promise you, I did not write this looking for encouragement. Besides, you haven’t seen me in a swim suit. Winter clothes can hide and compress many scary things.
As always your blog is true and heart felt. The other thing about getting old is you realize that what someone is on the inside is more important then the glamour body. Your insides shine. Love ya.
Right back at you!
Yep, getting older is indeed a “bleep.” I think it was Bette Davis who said it ain’t for sissies and she wasn’t kidding. But I once heard another actress – Goldie Hawn, I think, and in her late forties or early fifties at the time – say in an interview something to the effect of “I’ll never be this young again, so I’m going to make the most of it.” That always helps me on the days I’m clearly reminded I’m not twenty-something anymore.
This was a great post. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Great thought! Definitely something to embrace.
Love it!
Chris, that’s why I never wear my eyeglasses when I’m putting on make-up.-Jillian