When I was young and carefree,

I thought I’d never see

A gray hair or a wrinkle

Oh how wrong I was to be.

I didn’t think my rear would fall

Or other parts would sag

But as I wake up each new day,

I’ve less about to brag.

Some days when the clock alarms

And it’s time to hit the floor

I roll over and slide out of bed

Cause every joint I have is sore.

I have so many aches and pains

And I just don’t know why

My mind says, “You can do anything!”

My body begs “Please don’t try”.

At times I feel I’m thirty,

And my kids are still in their teens

But to keep my age in perspective,

I need only to slip on my jeans.

I have to lie down to get them zipped.

When it’s done, I can’t catch my breath.

I feel I look chic when wearing those jeans,

But it’s not worth a premature death.

I then dig out my comfortable sweats

They have elastic all the way round.

I now can breathe and walk like I should,

With a smile and not with a frown.

I had heard of “senior moments”

I thought I would never have one.

Either I’m finally considered a senior

Or I’m staying too long in the sun.

I’m stunned when I look in the mirror.

I think, “Could that really be me?”

Cause it surely looks like my own mother did

When “I” was just forty-three.

~Author~

Emily McAdams

©Copyright Jan. 2002