and lids had fallen. I laughed and laughed because it mattered to noone including myself. I realized I was very lucky.

That's what I'm talking about! LOL

I know who I am and I like her.

but being invisible to the type of lowlife male who is constantly trying to demand you smile, talk to him and eventually spread your legs for him is definitely freeing. It's beautiful to have all that background noise suddenly disappear, to have walking down the block be just a method of getting where you need to go instead of having it be a gauntlet of unwanted, intrusive men to run.

It's also nice to be able to thumb our noses at the fertility aisle in the supermarket.

Please let your sisters know that the one eye job or skin tightening might be good for their self esteem but that it's only a delaying tactic and that age will keep showing up elsewhere. Show them a picture of poor Meg Ryan as a caution about what happens to us when we try to hang onto youth too long.

Our culture doesn't value us except as baby sitters, and that's too bad. However, getting rid of a lot of pests is definitely compensation for getting older and looking it.

I'll disclose that I've been alienated from my family since I left home as soon as I was of legal age..I would have gone at 15 but was threatened with Juvenal Hall. Anyway, I had a brain so I managed. The point is that off and on I've tried to repair the relationships but it doesn't work...so my youngest sister married and moved to Australia and she and her daughter were in California the same time as my son and I so after much work they agreed to let us drive them to their next stop. I thought it would be nice for the kids to meet. Well it all went sideways when I didn't know who my sister was! I couldn't get my head around it and no one had told me that she had not just gotten a boob job, I knew about that, but she had had total facial surgery and was unrecognizable. She got really mad at me and said I was rude. I felt bad but I was so shocked I was confused by it...even her daughter had had total reconstruction and didn't look like the pictures I'd seen of her.

What a mess...

They're very pretty, I just didn't expect it...my bad, again.

Our values are very different.

We aren't valued for what we really are inside, just outside...I always hated that.

The other day I was coming back from the barn in my coveralls and jacket and had sunglasses on and someone honked at me. It brought it all back, that's when I started to think about this and how comfortable and grateful I am to be at an age when I don't have to deal with so much shit, all the time...LOL

Hey Warpy I nursed my son and my boobs got in the way! My husband loved it, I hated it...you couldn't give me a boob job! LOL I like my natural self!

Just turned 60 here. I say the oldest part of my body is my upper arms! They started looking like an old lady's - all droopy and such - several years back. At first I covered up, wore long-sleeved stuff. With global warming it's just too damn hot! Folks are just going to have to look away if they have a problem with it!

Right on. Starting to accept this aging thing. It's not the looks part so much, as the strength part, I'm challenged by.

And the shrinking...and the dexterity, damn these fumbling fingers! I've always been tall, close to 5'8" but I've lost height and now have to use a little step stool to reach things..I try to be patient with it.

I can relate to the upper arm thing, really, and I've decided the same as you...to hell with it I'm going to be comfortable! I just turned 67 in March...

Keep up the good work! We've earned it...say what you think and be kind to yourself!

Your name reminds me of a good movie, Smilla's sense is snow....

And what a relief, eh? Well, except for the hot flashes.

I also like being able to move through the world now without harassment. I like the invisibility.

I got my first grey hair at 19 and aside from a brief flirtation with henna in my 30s, I've let it go silver. I'm fortunate that it's come in really beautifully. People have said that if they could get this from a bottle they'd do it. So I show it off. I've earned each grey hair on my head.

I don't dress like a teenager but I don't dress "my age" either. I try to be fashionable because it makes me feel good about myself. I won't allow society to tell me how I should look and act as a middle-aged woman.

And I am in fantastic condition due to cycling 50-100 miles a week. That keeps me feeling young and strong.

You don't have to feel old, you don't have to act old, you don't have to conform to what you think society expects of someone your age. Look to each new decade as an opportunity to explore new things about yourself and where you fit in the world. And then blaze your own trail, sisters!

I was in the best shape of my life at 50 and it felt wonderful! Menopause is a gift, once you get through it and I'm sure you've found the exercise helps. I used to walk up a mountain every day with my dog and it was the best meditation. I lifted weights 3x's a week and ate well.

My health started to go south but having been so strong has helped me get through some pretty dicey health issues and I still think I'll figure out a way to get back as much as is possible. I bought myself some mountaineering walking sticks this winter and a pair of really good boots from LLBean so I can safely navigate all terrain, in all weather, without a fall.

We really don't have to do anything we don't want to anymore! Your doing great, all the best to you!