Me Old? NEVER!

“Are you kidding, me old?  No, I’m the oldest teenager on the Peninsula”, I overheard someone say the other day.  What wait a minute. “I am”, I thought to myself, then realized most Baby Boomers are NOT old, you know like our grandparents were. They were old!  While growing up as the baby of WWII parents, with boomer siblings spanning 15-5 years older than me, I had a lot of role models.  My parents were community builders, business leaders and church elders. They had fun. They had cocktail parties that started at 8:00 pm and went on late.  They went dancing, they traveled, dined out, they lived.  They taught me age really was only a number.  My sibs, are still going strong, traveling, creating, and giving back to their communities. 

So last week, it was my 61st birthday.  Yup, sounds old, but it was the BEST birthday I’ve had in a decade.  I drove downtown to meet my husband on Friday afternoon, we checked into a swanky hotel, met friends for cocktails, out for an outstanding dinner–tableside service!  Then, we went dancing and got back to our hotel room about 3:30 am!  Sure, I was tired in the morning. Who wouldn’t be?  We’ve so many plans, so much to look forward to, I’ve no time to get old!   I’ve sort of accepted my age. Sometimes my mother is looking back at me in the mirror, and then I catch myself picking up my hairbrush and singing a golden oldie from the 80’s like “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol and dance like no one’s watching. 

 My parents never said they were old, mind you from time to time, they did complain about the aches and pains. I never understood that and vowed that I would stay forever young. Foolish I was thinking that those aches and pains weren’t coming for me.  They have, but I stare them down daily (Advil does help) and embrace each day with a twinkle in my eye, a lift in my step and smile, I love most days.  Me old? NEVER!

—By Louise Taylor, Director of Community Engagment and Oldest Teenager