Age Is Just A Number

Bollocks. Age is the number & anyone who has ever stated such a thing obviously isn't as old as I am. Not that I'm that old. But old enough...

Age is something that's just kind of crept up on me. Hitting 30 was a bit of a downer, but that aside, I've not minded aging that much. Until now. All of a sudden I'm very aware that the roll I acquired around my midriff after the extraction of my second child is still yet to deflate and instead houses unwanted goods left over from dinners in fancy restaurants and the like.

Formerly the skinny girl (I was named Anna to my then best friend's Rexia - a school yard taunt that used to make me beyond miserable but one that I would now gladly have back) I now have to frequent the gym if I am to lose weight or, despair of all despairs, tone up. Tone up???? I've never had to tone up before. Before now that is.

Age is affecting me in others ways too of course. There's the smile lines that are forever embedded (& isn't it lovely how everyone can see what a happy person I am - NOT) or the fact that what I'd originally thought was a temporary haggard/harassed look from sleep deprivation is actually premature aging brought on by said sleep deprivation!

The other day our pastry chef celebrated his 32nd birthday. My 4 year old, who is obsessed with ages at the moment, was quick to point out that his Mummy was a 3 and a 7. Pastry chef nearly fell over with surprise & I thought, finally, that once so common and since forgotten complement where my age is skimmed back a good 5 years and I'm told that I look nowhere near my age - but alas, it was not so. Instead pastry chef lent in closer & said, 'But isn't Daddy a 3 and a 1?'

Yes, I have done well for myself snagging a younger man & I'm certainly no Demi to his Ashton (though if I had their funds I'm certain I'd look as she does) and yes I am fortunate to have a great group of friends ranging in age from their early 20's to mid 40's but when the younger ones act surprised upon hearing my age (and yes pastry chef, they do still sometimes act surprised) & come out with that little gem, 'age is just a number', I really don't know whether to throttle them or hug them...