Thinking Out Loud
Fake ID

March 11, 2014
By: Diane Szczepanski

I'm pretty sure that eating chocolate keeps wrinkles away because I have never seen a 10 year old with a Hershey bar and crows feet.
Amy Neftzger

I realized two things today: Attempting to give up chocolate is a cruel and futile effort.

Second, in a recent conversation with a friend, it dawned on me that I never had a fake ID in my youth like so many people did, claiming to be 21 when they obviously weren't...I think I would like to get one now.

It's not so much that I resent the pleasure of getting older. Each birthday is truly a gift and I know this in my heart.

My angst comes in little disheartening waves.

The reluctant resignation of the achy feet I get now after wearing high heels. Sometimes having to sacrifice 4" for 3", so as not to become best friends with a bottle of Ibuprofen. Or age rearing its ugly, relentless head in having to attempt to READ the bottle of Ibuprofen, when I do need it.

It reveals itself when it dawns on me that sometimes an interesting book and a good night's sleep, is a preferable form of entertainment to hitting the town and wandering up the driveway somewhere around the time the sun comes up.

I catch glimpses of my more mature self when it takes me a couple minutes to "warm up" when I get out of bed in the morning versus springing out of the covers and hitting the ground running.

Or that I am spending what seems to be an inordinate amount of time researching eye serums that claim to magically erase the beginnings of wrinkles I have so diligently earned.

Aging...I've come to realize two more things today: It can be friend or foe. I really don't want to be 21 again and aging really is all in our attitude. We gain much joy as our path of life travels ever further, even if our aches and pains also gain momentum on the journey.

Secondly, having a chocolate bar can cure anything and can and should be used accordingly.