Accepting my age

I had mentioned recently that I had another birthday roll around. I wasn't unhappy about it at all and sort of consider myself a "youngish" mom since I still have kids at home and one still in elementary school. But the day of my birthday, when I eagerly retrieved the mail full of birthday cards, I found a single piece of junk mail, squeezed between my cards that sorta let some air out of my birthday bubble. Not a burst, just a slow leak.

The 5x11 inch card was a nicely decorated, eye-catching advertisement for a bladder control product. It included a lovely photo of a smiling, elderly woman, taking a leisurely stroll along the beach, which I'm assuming was wearing the bladder control product for the photo because she was obviously nowhere near the ocean shore. And, then, conveniently included on the corner of the card, was a coupon for a free product so I could try it out, when I took long walks on the beach, as long as I purchased a package under $10.00 and by December 15th, of course.

I usually toss the junk mail before even reading what it actually is but for some reason, this caught me off guard. I instantly thought, man, does turning 44 years old put me on some mailing list for products that have better success with older women, or am I considered an "older" woman now? Who decided this? I thought it was 50 or 55 when I was supposed to start getting AARP mailings and special discounts and letters about specific age-related medical procedures I need to schedule. Not 44....?

I thought to myself, I need to get ahold of the company that put this list together and for Heaven's Sakes, get my young 44 year old name off of it. At least for the next 6 years. Don't they know I still have little kids at my house and I'm not a grandma yet? Do I have to get braggy with them and tell them sometimes, although rare, people confuse me for being in my 30's still? Late 30's but still! I mean, what's next? Coupons for bone vitamins and dental glue for my false teeth? I'm not even wearing bi-focals yet! I kinda need them, but they're not gracing my face yet. Geesh!

As I stared at this piece of mail, instead of opening my birthday cards, I took a deep breath and thought to myself, "Well, I guess I should accept that I'm no longer a young mom and these types of mailings are only going to increase, so I suppose I'll embrace it and move on." Plus, the coupons may come in handy some day and that's awful sweet of some company to think of me and my potential needs as an "older " mom.

But as I flipped the card onto the counter, I caught a glimpse of the address label. What???? It was sent to the wrong address! It wasn't my name at all! I'm NOT old enough to get these mailings! The lady addressed on the card obviously is, but not me! Oh ya! I'm young again! Whoo hoo! And I chucked that card right into recycling. Happy Birthday to me!!!!