Saturday, January 03, 2009

How old will you be next year?

Do you remember the days as a child, when apart from marrying a handsome prince and owning all the toys in the world, the only other ambition was to celebrate another birthday and enjoy being another year older and the experience of growing up.

When I was 5, I so wanted to be 7. It meant graduating from Infants to Juniors.

At 7 I longed to be 10 and enjoy a later bedtime.

At 10 I wanted to be 13. The anticipation of becoming a teenager.

But it didn't stop there. Once I turned 13 I couldn't wait for my 16th birthday, then the 18th and my 21st.

And in the rush, I would always enjoy the New Year's Day game that would help birthdays speed along at a faster pace. A simple trick of the mind, but one that I always relished.

Do you wanna play? It's simple, and will work as long as you already haven't had a birthday this year and is even more effective if your birthday is at least three months away.

Just answer these two easy questions...

How old are you right now?
And how old will you be next year, on your birthday in 2010?

I tried it on my eldest boy, who is currently 7 but was delighted to hear that next year he'll be 9.

Problem is when you're 40, the last thing you want to hear is that next year you'll be 42.

Oh well...according to the Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy, at least 42 is the answer to life the universe and everything. But really I'm in no rush to get there. For once I'm happy that I'm still only 40.

Growing up eh? Now who'd want to do that?

16 Comments:

Tim Atkinson said...

Oh no! How depressing.

Vodka Mom said...

damn. I'll be 50 this year! FIFTY for christ's sake.


hell.

Anonymous said...

So what you're telling me is that in 2010 I will be the answer to the life the universe and everything?
Bloody brilliant. Brng it on!

kerry jean lister said...

I have seriously started noticing wrinkles over the past few weeks. It's like they suddenly sprung up overnight - how did that happen?!

I'll be 35 on my birthday next year and at the rate I'm going will resemble a Shar-pei....

Anonymous said...

Little Brown Book, I'm the same age as you; my face is free from wrinkles, sadly it's my post-partum stomach that passes for a Shar-pei...
But I digress - great blog, 21st Century Mummy ;)

http://morethanjustamother.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I'll be 27, I think I'm ok with that...hmmm

esther said...

haha! I share that one with you, I'm ONLY 40!!!

Anonymous said...

I find that I add a year to my age. Not sure why, because I would rather go the other way.

Lionel Shriver's biog says she never lies about her age because she wants credit for every year.

Well, I don't!

Anonymous said...

Hi there, I too will be 42 on my birthday in 2010. My method of staving off decrepitness and disintegration is to have babies. My daughter was born 6 months ago, 3 months after my 40th birthday. My elder son was born 2 months before my 31st birthday. No-one thinks I'm 40 when they see me pushing the buggy, hee hee.

My husband says that he must regretably put his foot down and enforce a baby ban with immediate effect. I think he fears what may happen when I turn 50.

Jo Beaufoix said...

I will be 35 on my birthday in 2010. Scary. And like LIttle Brown Book I am also suddenly noticing wrinkles, and I have a jelly belly from two kids. Sighhhh. Ah well. I could maybe save up for a tummy tuck by then??

kerry jean lister said...

I've actually just realised I will in fact be 34 on my birthday next year.

Maths was never my strong point...

AND I have a jelly belly and no bloody babies to show for it!! It's all cheese and wine!

*hangs head in shame*

Caren Kennedy said...

Like a good wine, we improve with age.

Turning 40 isn't too bad because people celebrate/ commiserate.

Hitting 41, as I did recently, is depressing. The most you get is a grunted reminder that it's all downhill to 50 and hot flushes.

But even then I don't think age is problem until you hear someone saying, "I remember when ... but it was before your time ..." and realise the stranger talking is you.

My solution? Think Helen Mirren, Susan Sarandon, Madonna.

PS. They're not wrinkles Jo & Little Brown Book, they're most definitely laughter lines :-)

Bury Boy said...

Get real guys, its only the policemen that get younger, we all mature at the same rate. It is good for us, adds experience, and makes room for the younger generation. After all we are as young as we feel. Personally 50 feels better than 40 but then I am "past it" ?

Her indoors said...

Now excuse me ladies and gentlemen, I have been neglecting you for some time but I have some very good excuses...er...I mean some valid reasons, which I will all be revealed another time.

Thanks so much for leaving your comments, it is always appreciated especially when it look like I've gone and boogered off.

Sorry if I depressed you Dotterel...then again, I think I'd rather it be this way that have the life of Benjamin Button :-D

LOL Vodka Mom - that'll be another tipple then LOL :-D

Hey Tara - I think next year we will both know it all...yay :-D

Hi Little Brown Book - welcome to blogland...and so young :-D

Ha ha...I think I agree with with More Than a Mother about the post-partum obscurity that resembles a whole new world. Welcome too MTAM :-D

Erica - that age is just a dream away. I think I remember it well. Make the most of it and remember to mature like a really good wine, best to think full-bodied :-D

Ha Ha Esther - In that case welcome to the answer to everything club LOL :-D

Hi Susanna - don't be shy now, you gorgeous girl. The only way is up and I think you're doing great :-D

Hi Fiona - welcome too..to the blog and the answer to everything club. I think you've found the perfect answer there...not sure if I have the stomach (scuse the pun) to go for a third LOL.

Hi Ho - tummy tuck...eeeek...you lovely young thing you. I know someone who's having one of those for her birthday.....even more eeeek.

LOLOL Little Brown Book...I once had the same problem...so I can't blame it all on the kids then LOL :-D

Hello Caren and welcome...and you make so much sense. And look at those role models too. Okay, now I can't wait :-D

LOL Bury Boy - thank you so much for joining the debate. Past It? You jest.

Ha. I'm now much happier being older...now that I know I'm in good company xxxx

Local Girl said...

LOL - love that game! I'll be 37 on Thursday and I have no idea where that time has gone??

I just popped by to say how much I enjoyed meeting you yesterday. I didn't realise you were in Bury! I'm over in Ely, so give me a shout if you ever fancy coffee and a blogging gossip :)

Her indoors said...

Hi Liz - happy birthday for Thursday. I think we can most definitely say there will be coffee soon. So lovely to meet you on Saturday by the way. It was really fun :-D