Wise Words On Aging
My best friend of 50 years this year sent me this. Ha, we even bought a Rolling Stones record at K-Mart in Costa Mesa for $3.33 after pooling our baby sitting money. She wanted to buy Herman's Hermits and I said the Stones looked interesting - I won that discussion. We even had a black bra that we shared for "special" dates. 
We went to see the Stones in 1964 on their first tour of the US (my Dad drove us - he forever blamed all the problems of the world on the Beatles). It truly was a great time to grow up on so many levels, from the music to politics. Anyway, I was quite moved by this:
Wise Words On Aging
As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself,
and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this
world, too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes
with aging.
Whose business is it, if I choose to read, or
play, on the computer, until 4 AM, or sleep until noon? I will dance
with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50, 60 &70's, and if I,
at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.
I will walk the beach, in a swim suit that is
stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves, with
abandon, if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the hipster
set. They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again,
some of life is just as well forgotten. And, I eventually remember
the important things.
= new reply since forum marked as read
play, on the computer, until 4 AM, or sleep until noon? I will dance
with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50, 60 &70's, and if I,
at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will." Bam!
Fits me to T
Mahalo, mimi~ 
My best friend from 8th grade recently got back in touch. 
Very soon, I will turn 56.
What a long strange trip it's been!!
I remember when we lived in Ft. Worth, TX (1963 to 65) going out for a Sunday drive with my parents. I was a teenager and madly in love with the Beatles. Paul, in particular, floated my boat!! My best friend and I bought "Beatle" magazines and would look at them...mostly photographs....from cover to cover. I literally begged my father to stop at a record store so I could buy Meet the Beatles. I think I paid about $2.98 for it and my father almost had a cow when he realized how much I had paid for it. When we got home I was ready to listen to it but my dad had other plans for our TV/radio/record player combination. He watched golf while I pouted in my room staring at the album and reading every word on it and the liner notes. Pure torture for a 14 year old. Eventully I got to listen to my album but Daddy loved teasing me about how it "all sounded alike". He was a musical snob and thought the only music worth your time was classical.
Lots of water has gone under the bridge since then. I recently came across that album and gave it to my 15 year old grandson who is a huge Beatle fan. One of the first songs he learned to play on his guitar was "Blackbird" .... singing in the dead of night. And he surprised me with it when he learned how to play it all the way through. What a treat. 
Never forget: Aging should not be viewed with dread. It is a privilege denied to many.
How did that happen? 60! Don't feel like I always thought a 60 year old would feel.
A little forgetful yes, a little slower than I once was but not by much.
I will do as I please now, I actually get really resentful if I have too much to do outside of taking care of my farm. I don't care to go into town and do stuff, I have plenty here and for once in my long life I do not care how anyone else views that!
There is great joy in growing older I think. I am trying every day to see it more that way than the way we usually approach old age, with fear and or sorrow. Why feel that way? Joy is the only way to go
My boobs, however, are now more like bibs. 
I was going to use a ROFL smilie, but if I got down to roll on the floor, I'd need to call 911.
Glad you're here! We can start laughing at ourselves more as we age. A girlfriend of mine, who's my age too, was joking that she has a couple of familiar "friend" hairs she has to keep plucking out of her chin now. She's named 'em - Spike, and Barb! For now, at least, I don't have the kind of saggy neck that forces me to hide every Thanksgiving, but...
Haha, too funny! My BF went to get her boobs lifted when she was in her late 40s and the doctor said there wasn't enough to lift! 
So she ended up with big ones. So much for sharing the black bra. Darn, should've had mine done when I was younger. Not really, at least they won't be hanging down by my belt when I'm 65 (which will happen next year). Yikes, how time flies!
I have the same wonderful husband I married when I just turned 18 and not only has he been through me in sickness and in health, we have the gift of a beautiful daughter (which is why I got married so young - picked a good man though) and three great grandkids. My first grandson was born when I was 35! Ouch, my friends were still having little ones.
Marriage can be tough and takes a whole lot of compromise. We've had some rough years back in the day, but will celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary on New Year's Eve. Ha, my husband claimed me on his taxes for that year and we were only married 7 hours out of 1967. Now that REALLY pissed my Dad off! 
... but, aren't we aging well... only 10 pounds heavier than when we were 21 ...
... and now, every morning I awake, greet the sun, and think - It's a Gift
No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;
Am an attendant lord, one that will do
To swell a progress, start a scene or two
Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,
Deferential, glad to be of use,
Politic, cautious, and meticulous;
Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;
At times, indeed, almost ridiculous—
Almost, at times, the Fool.
I grow old . . . I grow old . . .
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.
Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
I do not think they will sing to me.
I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black.
We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.