I am turning 34. . .there, I said it!

This picture was taken a little more than a month ago. I have posted it for a couple of reasons: first, I don't have many recent pictures of myself since I am apparently the only one in this household who knows how to operate a camera, and second, the race number on my shirt says it all. . .I will be 34 in a few days!

I just got home from spending time with some sweet friends to celebrate one of their birthdays. She turned 23! Now, I knew these ladies were slightly younger than me, but when I heard that, I felt a little like Rip Van Winkle must have felt when he awoke from his looooong nap! Did I sleep through something? When did I get older?

I currently happen to feel that I am in the best shape of my life. I feel healthy, energetic, and well, sortof young! I still feel young enough to shop at the cool stores, although my swimsuit has a little extra fabric on the bottom half this year! Obviously I am "hip" enough to "hang" with the younger ladies, but see, I just said "hip" and "hang" which totally puts me in a crowd with geezers! I still love to learn the latest dances (my students taught me how to Dougie), but when I spontaneously break into dance, I do the Cabbage Patch! My youth is fading and I think I'm on my way up that hill that I will eventually "go over!"

I am truly struggling with the actuality of my age this year. 34 just sounds old to me! I remember when my mother was 34! It all hit home today as I was listening to the iPod that I share with my husband. A familiar tune began to play. . .one that I have heard so many times but never really listened to the lyrics. . .

He turned 35 (which is just one year away from 34) last Sunday,

in his hair he found some gray. .

He's got young friends into new wave,

but he's just too friggin old. . .

He's and old hippie and he don't know what to do,

should he hang on to the old,

should he grab on to the new,

He's and old hippie, his new life is just a bust,

He ain't trying to change nobody,

He's just trying real hard to adjust.

How depressing! The rest is about Vietnam and stuff so it doesn't really apply to me. Anyway, I'm going to go count my wrinkles, pluck a few gray hairs, but THEN I am going to get a good night's rest (it does take more hours than it used to), because this OLD HIPPIE doesn't plan on being too friggin old for anything yet! I have too many miles to run and experiences to experience! Fo shizzle my manizzle. . .just speaking the language of my youth!