Wednesday, February 22, 2012

45 and Counting

Today I turn 45 years old.  I am now mature. No more potty talk, no more pranks, no more dancing naked on the porch.

Bethat5

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                               Me at 5                                                                                                                            Me at 45

Much cuter at 5 than 45. But, same long finger toes and same book!

45 is only a milestone because I move into a new age group when racing. Up until two years ago I would not have even known what it meant to “move into another age group.” Now it gets me all giddy. Running/racing nerd for sure.

We have lots of ages. How old we are chronologically. How old we are cognitively. How old we are emotionally. And, how old we feel. Oh, then there’s that age they give you on the Biggest Loser, but I don’t have Dr. H here to tell me that I am actually 95 inside my body.

I think I’m 45 in every way except how I “feel.”  Some would even (and have even) said I’m in about the fifth grade with how much I enjoy talking about farts. Hell, I just enjoy farting, period. I think it’s one of the joys of life. Don’t even get me started on sharts and other goodies like that.

Getting older is not sexy or glamorous, but it’s pretty funny. Weird shit goes down in your body and mind. If you can’t laugh, what can you do besides cry or call Dr. Kevorkian? (Although I did hear he died doing what he loved the most – dying! Ba da boom!).

Here’s what I’ve noticed about getting older:

  • I’m in a new age group (did I already say that?). In Boulder the 45-49 vagina age group is kick ass and bad ass and brutal. I’m glad to join these ladies just so they can massacre me at every race. They give me a standard to look up to.
  • My eyebrows are thinning and balding in places! I’ve never cared about my brows, but they are ridiculous. Being pretty low maintenance in regards to my hairs, I hate to admit it’s time for routine shaping and waxing. My “below” region might be next. My Betty is ready!
  • I care much less what people think. As I get older, I’m starting to shed the need to impress or entertain people. I’ve never had a very thick skin, but it is growing layers by the day. As I move into realizing that I am quite mortal and really will die someday, I am less and less concerned about what people think and more and more concerned about living my life the way I want to live it.
  • My friend’s parents are getting sick and dying. Not much to say about this one except that we are next in line.
  • My children are old. What the hell? I never, ever thought my son would be taller than me and kick my ass in pull ups (not hard to do, I assure you), or that my daughter and I would be discussing what it is like to have a period. You might not think your kids will ever get there, but they will, and it will be before you know it.
  • My body hurts. It aches when I get out of bed in the morning. I have to stretch, take Motrin and use heating pads. Bring on the Vicks Vapor Rub and the “I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up” button in the shower.

This year, I’m wishing for the norm: to drink more water, to become more enlightened, to train/race without severe pain and/or injury and to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.  Piece of cake.

Speaking of cake, I’m taking charge today and going to Costco to get my cake. My mom made me an amazing home-made lemon cake on Sunday, but today I’m going for store-bought red velvet with cream cheese icing. Other stuff on tap for today? Free birthday car wash (show your ID and voila!). I’m living large!

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SUAR

95 comments:

  1. Happy birthday, Beth! Do something fantastic and fun... I mean beyond stuffing yourself at Costco!

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  2. Have a great day! I hear that it's also National Margarita Day.....

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  3. Have a wonderful birthday! I had a few too many pieces of the red velvet cake 2 weeks ago. It's divine, so ENJOY!!!

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  4. Happy Birthday! What's your goal list for this year, or before you turn 50?

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  5. Happy Birthday to you! I am entering a new age group this year too (and hoping some of these old gals will slow down so I can pass them!)

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  6. Happy Birthday, beautiful! I wish I were there and I'd bake you a red velvet cake. Of course, I'd probably forget about the alitude change and it would be collapsed. But it would still taste good.

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  7. Not a birthday cake, but my first anniversary is this weekend, and since I refused to do the whole "freeze the top layer" thing because I've never frozen anything without it getting freezer burn... I'm getting a fresh red velvet cake with cream cheese icing this weekend! I can't wait!!

    And happy birthday from a totally random stranger :)

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  8. happy birthday! i'm so looking forward to giving less of a crap about what people think too! enjoy that car wash and red velvet cake. i had some of that today too...is it ok for breakfast? lol

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  9. What's with this 'mature' talk and 'no more potty talk'? Hopefully that was just birthday sarcasm I missed due to lack of coffee, but as a 40-something birthday boy as well I say we've earned the right to be as immature as we'd like. :) Happy birthday and enjoy the cake!

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    1. TOTAL sarcasm. Never ever going to happen. I will be talking sharts on my deathbed.

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  10. Happy happy birthday! I hope you have an awesome and special day. :)
    Hugs from WY!
    E

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  11. Happy happy birthday! I hope you have an awesome and wonderful day. Hugs from WY!
    E

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  12. Happy Happy Birthday to you! May this new age group bring nothing but good things!

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  13. Happy Birthday!! I'm sure your birthday is going to be AMAZING!! Look forward to reading your blogs when you kick your new age groups Booty! :-)

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  14. Happy Birthday to the best potty talker around!

    I turned 43 a couple of weeks ago...

    *Agree...the body aches more
    *Agree...I care less and less about what others think...It's about living YOUR life how you want (within reason...of course!)
    *Agree...those kids really do grow up faster than we realize.
    and sadly I must *agree....others have been dying around me too....

    Live it up...we never know when we will go!! (or be granted another birthday...enjoy your red velvet!)

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  15. Happy Birthday and 45 is not old. But then again I am 58!

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  16. Happy birthday! I'm only 33 but I hear you on the whole aging thing. I never thought my body would have so many weird aches & pains, especially first thing in the morning. Sheesh. Hope your birthday is a great one!

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  17. Happy Birthday!! Love your outlook on choosing to live your life instead of worrying about others and what they think of your life. The 40s definitely bring a new perspective - my new goal is to be happy, enjoy life, and see and do as much as I can. And, definitely make better choices about what I choose to let stress me out!! (though that stress does fuel some fast runs!)

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  18. Happy birthday, Beth! Love those pics at the beginning!

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  19. Happy Birthday! And rather than 45, think of it as 18, with 27 years experience! That's how I look at it... although I have 29 years experience at it... but I'll never grow up :-)

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  20. "The Little Lamb of Bethlehem?" Really? REALLY? I somehow expected even the five-year-old version of you to be reading something more profane or possibly even censored.

    Oh, and happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy your cake and the farts that will likely follow.

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    1. Deb, I'm sure the sequel was the Little Fart of Bethleham, so I'm okay.

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  21. Happy Birthday Beth! I love following your blog in all its ridiculousness and awesomeness, and sometimes seriousness. Hope your cake is AMAZING! :)

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  22. Happy Birtday Beth! I love that you're embracing 45. As we know, aging is a privilege. Have a great day!

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  23. Happy Birthday! Hope you are able to enjoy yourself and perhaps get out there for a nice run today.

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  24. Happy birthday, Beth! Cheers to 45 and the cake and growing up and feeling young.

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  25. Happy birthday! I just turned 45 and am giddy about the new age group also! Imagine my disappointment when the first race I ran as a 45 year old had a 40-49 age group. :-)

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  26. Happy B'day youngster. I am turning 59 this year and feel about 28. Look it for the most part. Too bad I can't exercise my NECK! Can still stand on my hands, head and turn a cartwheel or two and working on the pull-ups (turn your hands around!)

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  27. HAPPY
    FREAKING
    Birthday!!

    Did someone say Costco?!?!?

    Awwww heck ya!!

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  28. Also - your age 5 couch.

    I want it.

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  29. Happy Birthday! I know how you feel, I turned 46 Friday.

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  30. Happy birthday my age-group friend! Yeah, there are definitely differences now vs. a decade ago. But you're doing 45 in style and with a sense of humor, so go you. Enjoy the day!

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  31. Happy Birthday, youngster. I will be entering a new age group in September. Since I can't stop it, so I'm going to rock it!!!!!

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  32. Happy Birthday! Now I know what I have to look forward too:) Although the aches are already here at 36. No period talk since I have 2 boys, but my oldest is only 11 and is 2 inches away from being my height. What?! You will rock the new age group!

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  33. Forty years and you haven't finished that book yet???????? Happy B-Day!

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  34. Woohoo!! Happy birthday!!!

    Age shmage -- you are the fittest and funniest woman I know!!

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  35. Happy Birthday! Women like you make the 40s look so great--I'm looking forward to joining you in just a little under a year.

    All the age groups in Boulder are like that. I guess there's no escape, other than moving, and who wants to do that????

    Am I weird that I already talk to my five-year-old about periods? I just don't want her to be traumatized by it like I was.

    Anyway, happy birthday again!

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    1. Maybe we should move to some dinky town in Mississippi and rule the age groups.

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  36. Happy Birthday, love the reading pics they are awesome xx

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  37. Happy Birthday! But seriously, no more potty talk? You had me worried there for a sec :)

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  38. Happy Birthday, Beth! I'm sure you'll fit right in with the baddest of the asses in that age group :)

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  39. Happy Birthday - turning a certain age does not make you mature. Try again next year!

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  40. You look amazing!! Happy Birthday. I'll never give up my potty mouth - never!!

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  41. A Birthday Story for you: Today, I totally forgot where I was and ripped a huge, loud fart and even shocked myself...I was at work, at my desk! Luckily the only other person here was on the 3rd floor and I could play it off as something else! Happy Birthday!

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  42. Happy Birthday! As another runner who was born in '67, it's vitally important to remember one thing:

    You will always be older than I.

    Congratulations on making it another year!

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  43. Happy Birthday there you youngster.

    This cracked me up: My Betty is ready!

    And where is the 'I'm going to yell: Get the f off my lawn' statement that you will be doing this year? Isn't that what we are supposed to do when we turn 45? What do people say if they live in an apartment? Stop knocking on my door?

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    1. Hopefully my old people statement will be when I'm racing and I can say "Get the f out of my way."

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  44. Happy Birthday Beth!!! You look awesome and still cute at 45!! Don't sell yourself short

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  45. Happy Birthday to a role model no matter how many candles are on the cake. You are such a role model - I hope I can be like you when I grow up. :) Signed a closer to 40 than 30 something old. :):)

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  46. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH! I hope your day is filled with sharts! I think you look fan-freaking-tastic!!

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  47. Happy birthday! Girl, if I could look half that good when I'm 45, I'll be very happy. :)

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  48. A very happy birthday to you!! Hope this year is your best!!

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  49. I love grocery store birthday cake. Also, people are rarely interesting before the age of 40. So you are barely even interesting in my book. ; )

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  50. Cake cake cake! Extra Starbucks! Wishing you all good things today and in the future.

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  51. Happy happy birthday! This post was just what I needed today as I creep towards 40. Thanks!!

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  52. Happy birthday!!! Free carwash?? Man, I live at the wrong end of town! And, damn I really want cake right about now ...

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  53. I just celebrated my youngest's birthday tonight, (which is actually
    tomorrow) shhhhh... and we are now building a fort in the playroom to continue on into the night... Whew!!

    happy Birthday!! Stay young at heart...stay strong...stay quick...and stay feisty:) We will sing for you tonight as well:)

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  54. A free car wash on your birthday?!! Do you have to be a citizen?? I'm sure I could get my car shipped to the States in the next couple of weeks.

    Happy Birthday!

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  55. You have the same look of wonder as when you were 5 years old. As long as your young at heart, all is good. Happy Birthday Beth!

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  56. Happy birthday. So glad to hear you are in this age group. As a newbie to running and age 45it is refreshing to hear someone talk about pains and not all about being skinny and peppy and oh I broke a nail and it hurt so bad. V

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  57. Happy Birthday, SUAR! Keep being amazing... you are a true inspiration. =)

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  58. happy birthday you old fart! live it up with that car wash and cake. but seriously, costco cake is the best. and those red velvet cakes were $2 off at our costco, just saw them yesterday.

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  59. I hope you had the best day Beth!!!!!!!

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  60. Happy Birthday!!! I hope you had an awesome day! :)

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  61. Happy Birthday! 45 years young Lady. :)

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  62. Happy belated birthday Beth....we are like fine wine, we better with age (im older than you so i can relate). Hope your day and year are blessed beyond measure. May you NEVER give up fart talk and having fun....as we know life is too short, live it and enjoy it.
    God Bless!

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  63. Happiest of birthdays Beth :)

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  64. Happy birthday Beth! I turned 29 yesterday and was feeling for a moment - kinda old lol (I mean - I'm almost 30!!! *gasp*) Then I read this and thought, fuck it, if I am even half as amazing as you are 45 then I'm cool with it :D

    You're proof that age ain't nothing butt a number.

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  65. Happy Birthday chica! I hope you had a great day!

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  66. Happy birthday to you!
    Happy birthday to you!
    I know this is laaa-aate!
    But happy birthday to you!

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