This is a dangerous situation. Readers will learn how to Avoid, Dodge and Deflect when others are making references to things you remember but pretend not to. For example, when someone asks, "Remember the episode of Saturday Night Live when Chevy Chase . . ."* smile politely, appear to strain to figure out who Chevy Chase is and say something like, "Do you mean Mike Meyers?" They will think you are too young to have stayed up that late, or better yet, you weren't even born!
* I only know Chevy Chase because I watch “Saturday Night Live” re-runs of the Chevy Chase episodes on the comedy channel.
Even people that feel the need to constantly remind others of their age make me uncomfortable. I forgot her name, but someone I worked briefly with, her name may have been Cathy, was one to do that.
"Let's see, I can get the retirement offer if I wait how many years? I had my daughter at 40, she's 5 now, that makes me 45, so in ten years I can leave the company with benefits."
Did she have to say all that out loud? At times like this I turn red, change the subject or say, "My mom just left the company and she received a nice financial package, even though she only worked in the company 15 years."* My mom quit in four years before, but "just" is such a relative word.
*The fact that she worked in the company for only 15 years is great! She could be 40 for all anyone knows.
So for the kindred spirit out there, maybe it won't stop anyone from asking this godforsaken question, maybe it will even make more people ask. Yes, when referring to this book, some idiot will think he or she is funny by going on and on about their age, your age, aging in general. The person will emphasize how cool they are with aging, not realizing, you could care less how she feels about it.* But now, at least they will know that they are idiots. In fact, some of them may be close relatives and friends. Some may themselves be sensitive about their age.
* Even worse if the idiot is a he.
It won't stop them, and it certainly won't stop time. It may simply let you know you're not alone. Then there is our sick system of denial. We try to pretend getting older is great. How often have you heard or said these things:
"My husband says I have more character in my face now that I'm older." (Actually, I believed this one, the woman is in her mid forties and I know her husband and I believe he really means it)
"I admire older people." (as long as I'm not there yet)
"I'm more comfortable with my body at 50 then I've ever been in my life." (of course it cost a fortune to feel that way what with therapy and extensive plastic surgery)
This is bullshit! Getting older sucks. But don't get me wrong, I'm all for having a
good attitude about getting older, it is, after all, all we have. Let's just acknowledge the loss.
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