Oh man. The fall sounds hard. I hope you heal up quickly! Speaking of bodies, my knees creak now and it reminds me of how my mom’s sounded going up & down the steps. And how she was always rubbing them. It seemed like such an “old person” thing when I was young but looking back, I realize that my mom was younger than me when it started for her. And now when I go to the doctor (depending on which kind of medicine they practice) they either tell me I’m young or Well, you know, you’re not 20 anymore. Such a mindF.
Why did people back then seem so much older? I've had the same doctor for about 15 years and we're about the same age so we're aging together. I think that has helped!
I had frozen shoulder last winter (google it, it’s apparently common in post-menopausal women: NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHY. But I digress.)
Was doing PT and one day ended up with a new tech who clearly hadn’t read my chart but seemed to be trying to figure me/my issue out. Did I recently have surgery? Been in a car accident? Had I injured myself? Etc etc it goes on. Finally my age came up (56) and it was hilarious how the questions stopped. No longer was it curious why I was having such pain; my age (shrug) was the reason of course.
Koreans don't really use that word for people unrelated to us, and we have very specific titles for the different aunts in our family. I'm not an expert on this though (fellow koreans pipe in if I'm wrong)! We (even my mom and aunt) actually didn't really know how to address people. I think what we learned that was acceptable is a work in Korean that roughly translate to english as "older sister".
When you mentioned that everyone around was a middle aged women or older, I immediately thought "The Future is Female!!!" (insert fist pump). I swear Jenna, you need a tv show. Everything you say prompts a ton of nods.
Another good one! I remember how my grandma would list off everything she ate in a day, and now my mom does that, so I guess I will too one day?
I’ll turn 50 next summer. Here are a few changes I’m noticing. I’ll take the ten flights up at work, but don’t like walking down — I don’t want to test out my bone density by falling on those concrete stairs. I’ll occasionally go to an early spin class with my daughter, but need to be in bed super early the night before.
But the biggest changes I’m noticing are in my hands. They’re looking older and more like my mom’s. So maybe we should’ve worn those gloves when we were younger. They also tire more easily. I had a stack of raffle tickets to fill out for my kids’ school. Writing on those tiny lines … ugh! I can’t complain too much, because I know it’s so much better to be an older woman now than ever before. But my body is still just a body, like my mom’s and grandma’s.
I hope you feel better soon. It’s sweet how your daughter’s helping you — and I know that look too :)
I always feel like I'm going to trip when I rush - or even walk - down subway stairs. Seriously the hands! When I put my hand next to my 16yo, the difference is so noticeable. She's a pretty thin kid, and skinnier than I am at this point, but her hands are so much plumper than mine!
And that was just one small group of women. A sea of a 100+ standing in line is amazing. I wear a baseball hat all the time in the sun now. Maybe I should just get it over with and transition to the visor!
Asians and aging, a wonder! I am 28 but I have both been confused for still being in high school (at a boba shop in Taipei where I live) and for being my 76 year old dads spouse 😭 I had my mask on and was touring a retirement home with him. An 88 year old woman made that assumption. I was more than offended but mostly because this is my FATHER. The part you wrote about age being so fluid is relatable and I am curious how that evolves. In my early twenties I didnt really think about all this but now I am noticing how Asian women/men really can look the same from their late twenties throughout their 40s. Hah, amazing.
Hope you recover soon! sorry to hear about the fall
Ahhhh, that reminded me, when I was in my late twenties and commuting with my dad to work (wrote about that time in my last post) sometimes being mistaken for his spouse from the guys in the parking booth. It was horrifying!!!
I find myself losing balance more these days. Aging sucks in that way. The other day I fell on my elbows. Idk how but I just lost my balance and ended up on my elbows!
My kids were so concerned when they first heard that I fell because they equate it with balance issues that they witnessed first hand with 2 grandparents.I told them I just fell off a chair and they were kinda relieved it was just a "regular" accident.
Oh man. The fall sounds hard. I hope you heal up quickly! Speaking of bodies, my knees creak now and it reminds me of how my mom’s sounded going up & down the steps. And how she was always rubbing them. It seemed like such an “old person” thing when I was young but looking back, I realize that my mom was younger than me when it started for her. And now when I go to the doctor (depending on which kind of medicine they practice) they either tell me I’m young or Well, you know, you’re not 20 anymore. Such a mindF.
Why did people back then seem so much older? I've had the same doctor for about 15 years and we're about the same age so we're aging together. I think that has helped!
I have had similar thoughts of looking perpetually 30-40 for tech ageism and sexism reasons. I loved this post
Age ambiguity can totally work in our favor for many decades...until one day all of a sudden it doesn't!
I had frozen shoulder last winter (google it, it’s apparently common in post-menopausal women: NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHY. But I digress.)
Was doing PT and one day ended up with a new tech who clearly hadn’t read my chart but seemed to be trying to figure me/my issue out. Did I recently have surgery? Been in a car accident? Had I injured myself? Etc etc it goes on. Finally my age came up (56) and it was hilarious how the questions stopped. No longer was it curious why I was having such pain; my age (shrug) was the reason of course.
I have several friends with frozen shoulder. It's bizarre that it's so common for women this age!!
But how about auntie? I hear that a lot in movies.
Koreans don't really use that word for people unrelated to us, and we have very specific titles for the different aunts in our family. I'm not an expert on this though (fellow koreans pipe in if I'm wrong)! We (even my mom and aunt) actually didn't really know how to address people. I think what we learned that was acceptable is a work in Korean that roughly translate to english as "older sister".
I think I stand corrected as people may use the korean word for "aunt." Honestly, I can't keep up haha.
Aging, thank you for these posts.
When you mentioned that everyone around was a middle aged women or older, I immediately thought "The Future is Female!!!" (insert fist pump). I swear Jenna, you need a tv show. Everything you say prompts a ton of nods.
HAHA, don't make me laugh! It hurts my ribs. A TV show for someone who hates being on camera :)
Another good one! I remember how my grandma would list off everything she ate in a day, and now my mom does that, so I guess I will too one day?
I’ll turn 50 next summer. Here are a few changes I’m noticing. I’ll take the ten flights up at work, but don’t like walking down — I don’t want to test out my bone density by falling on those concrete stairs. I’ll occasionally go to an early spin class with my daughter, but need to be in bed super early the night before.
But the biggest changes I’m noticing are in my hands. They’re looking older and more like my mom’s. So maybe we should’ve worn those gloves when we were younger. They also tire more easily. I had a stack of raffle tickets to fill out for my kids’ school. Writing on those tiny lines … ugh! I can’t complain too much, because I know it’s so much better to be an older woman now than ever before. But my body is still just a body, like my mom’s and grandma’s.
I hope you feel better soon. It’s sweet how your daughter’s helping you — and I know that look too :)
I always feel like I'm going to trip when I rush - or even walk - down subway stairs. Seriously the hands! When I put my hand next to my 16yo, the difference is so noticeable. She's a pretty thin kid, and skinnier than I am at this point, but her hands are so much plumper than mine!
That fall does not sound fun! I hate how everything takes so much longer to heal now that we are old. Also - all the visors and perms!!!
And that was just one small group of women. A sea of a 100+ standing in line is amazing. I wear a baseball hat all the time in the sun now. Maybe I should just get it over with and transition to the visor!
Asians and aging, a wonder! I am 28 but I have both been confused for still being in high school (at a boba shop in Taipei where I live) and for being my 76 year old dads spouse 😭 I had my mask on and was touring a retirement home with him. An 88 year old woman made that assumption. I was more than offended but mostly because this is my FATHER. The part you wrote about age being so fluid is relatable and I am curious how that evolves. In my early twenties I didnt really think about all this but now I am noticing how Asian women/men really can look the same from their late twenties throughout their 40s. Hah, amazing.
Hope you recover soon! sorry to hear about the fall
Ahhhh, that reminded me, when I was in my late twenties and commuting with my dad to work (wrote about that time in my last post) sometimes being mistaken for his spouse from the guys in the parking booth. It was horrifying!!!
Jenna, I'm so sorry about your accident! I hope your recovery moves quicker than expected. ♥️
Thank you, Carrie.
I find myself losing balance more these days. Aging sucks in that way. The other day I fell on my elbows. Idk how but I just lost my balance and ended up on my elbows!
My kids were so concerned when they first heard that I fell because they equate it with balance issues that they witnessed first hand with 2 grandparents.I told them I just fell off a chair and they were kinda relieved it was just a "regular" accident.
I'm hearing more of my friends having balance issues during their 50s. I guess we all better be more slower and careful as we age :/
I'm glad you're okay now.