Five Things I Didn't Know About....Turning 50

Even though I am not even halfway through my fifties, it seems that I still learn new things about my fifth decade of life. Here are some of those things:  

I'm falling behind with technology
When we were kids, we were the ones who programmed the remote and figured out how to get the dishwasher to run WITH water. Our parents were happy to let us figure these things out and hand them the programmed remote or even wash the dishes by hand. Now it's me who is feeling left behind. This new Windows 8 user interface is making me feel old. But, I am not letting technology pass me by just yet. At least I know where to go to find answers. (Hint - it's not my neighbor's teenage daughter, either.)

It hurts getting up
Sometimes when I am sitting on the couch for a long time watching a movie, it hurts when I get up. Everywhere. I remember my dad, my aunts and uncles complaining when they got up after a long night of visiting. My dad would hold his back, my aunt her knees and my uncle his hips. At the time I thought that I would never let myself get that way. Good luck stopping age or time. 

Our generation is still running the show
When I was in my thirties, my colleagues were all baby boomers. We were young, fresh and full of good ideas. Funny thing is, we are still running the show. Maybe we aren't so young any more and certainly not as fresh, but most of my colleagues in their fifties are the only ones still desperately trying to get our younger colleagues on the right track. Alas, our public education has failed miserably. 

I don't like loud music any more
Did I ever like loud music? See, my memory is going, too. I often prefer quiet over music. I turn down the music on my computer until it is so faint that I decide it is better just turning it off. I still listen to music when I work out, but other times, I would rather just listen to silence and hear my own thoughts. 

I think more and more about moving to a warmer climate
I lived in California for seven years but got tired of everything else I had to put up for that warmer climate. Crime, smog, crowds, traffic, brown earth and expensive housing are a few trade-offs. I haven't quite gotten to turning up the heat in the house to 80, but it's not like the thought hasn't crossed my mind. Our winter in Minnesota last year was brutal and the summer rather cool and far too short. I can actually understand how people would want to spend Christmas or New Year's somewhere snow doesn't fly. Perhaps next year. For now, I'll just turn up my electric blanket, add a fuzzy pair of sock to wear to bed and slip underneath my mound of blankets to keep warm. 

And I will  pray that I might actually sleep tonight...but that would make this six things about turning fifty.