As a child, I remember eagerly anticipating becoming an adult. No one would tell me what to do or when to do it. Oh boy, was I ever wrong! Adults just have different people telling them what to do and long for those care-free, childhood days. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side. 🙂 Of course, the older we get, the more set in our ways we become too. In other words, we become old coots. Something every child solemnly swears never to become, yet I find myself sliding further into old coot territory every day.
6 Old Coot Warning Signs
I know I’m getting old because …
I Have to Go Pee in the Middle of the Night
TMI, I know. But this was the first sign of old age for me. These days, around 3AM, I wake up with the desperate urge to pee. Max is not standing on my bladder in a futile attempt to get me out of bed to feed him. Nope, he is fast asleep at the foot of the bed. I am just an old lady with a small bladder. So I stumble to the bathroom, relieve myself and come back to bed to discover that Max has commandeered my spot.
My Bones Creak
A few months ago I was in a panic. Whenever I would sit for a period of time, then get up to grab a drink or go to the bathroom (yes, I pee a lot, okay?), my bones would creak. This wigged me out because it was a new sound and sensation for me and I did not like it. I told my parents, expecting concern and sympathy from them. There was a long pause and a sigh, then they told me the good news: I wasn’t sick, just getting old.
My 20 Year High School Reunion Has Come and Gone
Some days I do feel old with my creaky bones, but other days I forget I’m an old coot until reminded by actual youngsters (and my use of the word youngsters is just another old coot sign). When my nephews and niece were visiting, they talked about high school and it seemed so different. Then I remembered, it’s been 23 years since I graduated from high school. High school is different today. I see fellow classmates on Facebook and wonder when they got old. They probably think the same about me.
I Start Sentences with “Back in …”
Remember when “old people” used to start sentences with “Back in” or “When I was a kid” and you would roll your eyes? It was so annoying! And holy crap I do it now too. I give beady eyes to those entitled millennials who think they know everything. Of course, I was also considered an entitled Generation Xer by Baby Boomers at one point too. Some day, dear millennials, you too will grumble and say “Back in …”
I Crave Things from the Past
I’m not going to give up my big screen TV, or computer or smartphone, but when it seems like the apocalypse might be happening any day (which is something us old timers worry a lot about), I crave comfort and simpler times. Thus, I’ve been watching a lot of Murder, She Wrote lately. Because A) There is nothing good on and B) It makes me feel young. And boy, some of the guest stars really hammed it up. I laughed more than intended but it felt good. And now I also understand why my Dad watches a lot of Zorro reruns.
I Just Don’t Give Two Toots What You Think
Well, I’m getting there. But I’m getting to the point of my life where I just don’t care what you think. My life; my choices … back off. This is probably the best gift of becoming an old coot. You care less about what others think and more about what makes you happy. Now some are blunt instruments who don’t care about any hurt feelings they leave in their wake. This will likely never be me, because it’s not my nature, but at the same time, I’m also going to do what I please, whether you like it or not. I only wish I learned this earlier.
Still Got Some Life in These Old Bones
The good news is that I haven’t chased anyone off my yard. Granted, I technically don’t have a yard but still … I’m counting it. 🙂 In all seriousness, it does surprise me some days to realize that I am getting older because many days I do feel like I’m still 25, which is a really good thing. It just occasionally feels odd when I remember that I’m turning 41 next month. And I’m an old coot who is still trying to figure out who she is and what her purpose is. Some days I think that might be the point of life. To keep figuring out your purpose because just like life, it is constantly evolving, even when you’re an old coot.
So, are you an old coot like me? If so, what led you to figuring it out? If you’re still a spring chicken, what do us old coots do that most annoy you?
Tanya
i’ve been an old hag since….gosh, i’m not even sure since i’ve been like this for years!!! i wake up at 5/530am and go to bed at 930pm….basically, i’ve turned into an 80yr old grandmother!!
LOL! The one thing I am not an old coot on yet is bedtime. I am night owl, although I do enjoy a good nap. And may occasionally fall asleep watching TV. 🙂
Ha, I love this 🙂 I loooooove Murder She Wrote! I watch it all the time 🙂 I hear ya about high school and how long ago it seems but then at the same time, it doesn’t. I graduated 21 years ago and it seems like it was just a few years ago instead of the actual number.
I never watched it growing up but remember my Grandma did. Now I’m hooked. LOL! Yes! Some days it feels like I graduated high school yesterday and then I remember it was 23 years ago and I can’t believe it.
The last one is my absolute favorite. It’s so wonderful coming to that place where no one else’s opinion matters, and I think that comes with age. BTW, regarding the middle of the night wees, simply do your kegel exercises and stop drinking about 4 hours before bed. 🙂
I agree, Laurie. It’s a great place to be where you no longer feel like you have to follow the herd or spend all your time worrying about what others think. Okay, I’m going to have to try your tip because the other day I had to get up twice! And maybe I also ought to invest in Depends. 🙂
#7 – you use “old coot” in your title. hahaha!
Seriously, I’m right there with you. Old coots unite!
I love the term old coot. It just makes me giggle and heaven knows we need to do more of that! Yes! Old coots unite!
Right there with you. The other day at work I said a line from the movie Airplane in front of one of my millennial co-workers. They stared at me blankly. I said it was from the movie Airplane and they said, “what’s that?” shoot me.
Man! How can they not know Airplane? It’s a classic for a reason. Yikes, it definitely makes me feel like an old coot when those young-ins don’t know classic movies.
yay i love being an old coot hahaha. but seriously though, not caring what people think (mostly) is the absolute best thing to happen as you age. you get more comfortable and confident in your skin and with who you are that you just don’t give a flying fox what anyone else says.
Feeling more confident in your own skin is truly is one of the best gifts of getting older. I’m just getting too old to give two toots about what everyone thinks.
Hate to tell you, but your 20 year reunion comes before 40. You have to be at least mid-50s to even start being a coot. I’m but a mere curmudgeon. And Murder, She Wrote is the show MADE for old coots. It was for old coots when they were new and now we can see once-young guest stars who are now old coots! (Brian Cranston, Bill Maher, Mackenzie Phillips)