Welcome to Forty

I went away last week as a thirtysomething, for a fun birthday getaway with my hubby (which was fabulous!!). I came back FORTY, and while it's great and all...still, it feels different, not necessarily in a very bad way. It definitely beats the alternative...every day above ground is a good day, or at least has the potential.

So many people, women and men, have assured me that forty is the best decade for a woman, in so many ways, and I believe them, or at least, I certainly feel reassured:

• Older men seem newly attracted and appreciative - why is that?
• Men the same age seem more relaxed, easier to interact with, less sexual tension (we're all just so tired!);
• Younger men seem more or less oblivious, as if, overnight, I became the 40-year-old Invisible Woman;
  (Except for our younger Concierge, who is a sweetheart, but that's his job, right?!)


• Older women seem more antagonistic, almost testy, with little sympathy on the whole aging issue: "You ain't seen nothing yet, Baby, so quit whining/bitching."
• Women the same age are all so overwhelmed in the midlife chaos, we barely have time to consider the issue;
• Younger women seem slightly repulsed by the graying hair, the extra 10 - 15 lbs (possibly 20) here and there, and what I'm sure is considered an appalling lack of taste in fashion and upkeep, but is actually a lack of concern and little time for high maintenance fashion in apparel or appearance. They are so sweet and... almost solicitous, more and more so (as if I already had the blue hair and the walker). Or completely oblivious, much like their male counterparts. And that's okay, because I always think (probably like the older women about me):
  "Oh, just you wait, Honey, your time will come..."
  (Not that I'm bitter, or anything.)

Things have been so crazy-busy for the last several weeks. I keep thinking everything should settle down some, now that I'm forty. Like I can go quietly into pre-menopause or early retirement (from what, you ask?!) or whatever comes next after the hump-Birthday...grandparenting? Thank god that will be something to look forward to in my 50s -- it had better not be until then, as my oldest child is only 12. (Only 12?! How did that happen?) He's got a milestone birthday coming up in January -- we are all plugging along.

And life is good.