Seniority: The Best Time of Life 1

As sex was taboo we got to be kids for a very longer time.  

The 1950s and 1850s were pretty much the same although there were more obviously arranged marriages in the previous century. 

Our actually dating might not have happened until we were eighteen or so, and was carefully supervised; we had our curfew, and the rules.  

After eighteen it was either marriage, a job, college.  We were expected to leave home.  

Okay, was this the best time of life?

Huh?

Lets look at your Twenty Something

Remember all the questions, the uncertainty, the pressure, needing to conform or not conform, not sure, all the emotional tsunamis when you thought that he said, but he meant…and why?

Remember that first job?  Not knowing what was expected?  Not knowing whom to trust? Not even knowing if this was what you wanted to do?

Okay, the Thirties

You were supposed to be married with children. You were supposed to be living in your own house, and everything set.  

Did the marriage work?  Were you wrong?  Should you move here? Should you have kids? How many?  Were you toilet training to early/late?

Should you breast feed or not?  Should you change jobs? Go back to work?  Maintain the marriage or get divorced?  

Remember those years?  Remember when you agonised over which school to send your child and whether to take that loan?  Remember working so hard and learning that it isn’t qualifications which get promotions?

Here come the Forties.

The kids were supposed to be gone, you were supposed to be settled, but you weren’t were you?  And there were always the pressures, the sleepless nights, the self doubt?

The Final Gasp of ‘Middle Age’

Competing with teen age…the cosmetic enhancements; styled hair, dyed or thickened, dermatologist, plastic surgery?  Troweling on the makeup, wearing a wig, going on diets, trying to squeeze that last drop of youth from your body?

Now

Finally, suddenly realising, you are who you are; and accepting it. 

Doing what you want, when you want, and no one can tell you what to think, believe, or appear.  You can wear your purple hat; you can stay up all night watching cable.  You don’t have to save for that rainy day; you can cash a policy and take that cruise.

So how come you don’t see the freedom, but the wrinkles? How come you don’t see the alleviation of pressure but carry the weight of the world on your shoulders?

Hmmm?