the age of egg salad and tiger balm

This is a little tale on getting older. Sure you could say technically we are all getting older, even my tiny toddler is getting older. But on the heels of my birthday and the sprinting line of a big life number looming I give a minute to ponder all the life changes that can happen in a life. Sometimes my life events seem to come in waves; last year was no exception. At this particular birthday I am starting to feel the title ‘middle age’ take hold. Now really, you could argue how in the world could last year you still feel 25 even though you were (cough) 36? And when reasonably did you, Sierra, think that middle age started? Well to be honest I never really thought about it. Maybe it was when I turned 37 and suddenly actually felt like I was 37. So there might be the real argument. You are not middle age, until you think/feel you are or at least start thinking about it.

There are some hilarious things about being middle age, and I am not the only one who thinks so.  

I know there is some or many comedians out there who have a barrage of ‘you know you are getting old when.....’ jokes.

Here is what I have compiled from other older and wiser writers out there on the www

You know you are middle aged when...

• you find yourself in a garden centre and actually recognise the names of some plants. (ummm is that an epiphyte over there? oh yes certainly)
• you keep more food than beer in the fridge. (excluding the dude of the house)
• older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you.
• comfort triumphs over style in the fashion stakes.
• all you want is a quiet night in.
• you choose Fairtrade coffee and organic muesli over pop-tarts and chocolate milk. (sometimes)
• you make sure you're well rested before attending a concert.
• you eat olives from the local farmer's market.
• rather than throwing away old shoes, you keep them in case they come in handy for the garden.
• when at a concert, you tut and sigh because the girl in front has wrapped her backside around her boyfriend's shoulders and you can't see the stage without standing up. And you really don't want to have to stand up.
• you feed your dog natural, holistic dog food instead of leftovers after a visit to McDonald's.

So in the same vein, some I have added, but not as entertaining.

You know you are middle aged when...

• you have been to more funerals than weddings in a year.
• you start to appreciate egg salad sandwiches (thanks mse).
• you look forward to the hot water bottle at the end of the day.
• you carry tiger balm under your wing.
• you start to critically think you are not getting paid enough for what you do.
• you would dance anywhere any time and don’t care one bit (is this just me?).
• you feel authority not just with your words, but your whole being and realize this is the more sophisticated-teen-thought version with actual facts and gusto behind it; not just a thought with a lot of hot air.
• you realize the people, especially other mamas and women are all super heroines with their own special powers and they feed your own superheroine-ness too.
• you can ponder the existence and connection between every living thing and can feel it in your bones wanting your heart to bust from your chest.
• you could care less about any imperfections about your body (or you have so many that it would be impossible to care about all of them).
• you think of researching life insurance and examine your 401k plan with a finer toothed comb
• things start to make sense and are senseless at the same time

My additions definitely feel more sobering. I guess I have many more questions than answers to this.
Again I am new to this whole middle age thing. Is middle age is earlier for people who have kids? Does the number of kids contribute to the middle age feeling? Does it matter how old you are when you have kids?
Is there an equation to all of this?
Can someone pour cold water on me and wake me from this dream?
Do people have middle life views that are sunshine and rainbows?  
Someone give me more intoxicating mid-life antics please.

Strawberry Letter 37

Kickin off the dark clouds that lay low over this noggin for most of January. This mama was out of commission and in the business of hot water bottles, tiger balm, nyquil and heavy doses of Acetaminophen. In my sickly haze I was not very productive. I couldn’t take time off (are your little violins playing?) and honestly I could not get my act together to do the bare basics never keep up on my blog. (*sniff*)

But the sun is shining again and I am breathing. This pony’s first adventure of course was food shopping. Tuesday, I hit Trader Joe’s with the burst of excitement that can only come after weeks of drudgery. In my shopping splender I passed a beautiful, bright and mountainous end-cap of strawberries. Intrigued, I drew closer. They looked good. The red color was alive. But, what really caught my eye was a small flower bud just under the plastic clamshell lid (learned terminology later). What promise!

I took my little nature pod home and devoured them all over the next few days. Each time the strawberry pile got smaller, my strawberry bud continued to take center stage at the top of the clamshell box. It was not that the strawberries alone wouldn’t make my heart sing, but come on, the small white flower pushed it over on cuteness factor.

Luckily, on the top of the strawberry clamshell box, there was a little bit of info that also gave me a sparkle. It was the number code of the person who picked these particular berries. I wanted to tell the company that it was a genius move to include a little strawberry flower in their strawberry bundles. So I sent them an email and thanked them for the little extra gift. I told them if they didn’t do this on purpose, that they should consider it.

This is what I got back just a few days later.

Dear Sierra,

Thank you for visiting the FreshQC™ website to rate our strawberries.  Consumer feedback is invaluable to us.  The 16-digit FreshQC™ number is tied to the picker, variety, field location, date and exact time of day the flat was picked.  We are able to connect you to our growers and the actual picker that picked your package of produce.  They are able to read your comments providing accountability and continuous improvement for their work.

                                          

I’m so glad you had a great experience with Wish Farms!  I love that there was a strawberry flower in your clamshell – a lot of people don’t realize that’s how strawberries form.   I wish I could say it was done intentionally, but I think that package was meant just for you to find!  They are of the Radiance variety and picked from one of our growing operations in Central Florida.  We are a year round supplier of strawberries – our Florida season kicked off in November and will go through the month of April until our California season picks up!   Be sure to keep letting us know what you think through our FreshQC™ program!

 
Nice to get the response, especially so soon. I have little faith that they will take my advice, but it is good to know some ear heard my little ole comment. Here is to a delightful flower in my strawberry clam shell that gave a hint of sunshine in the midst of dreary winter. Fists to the air; STRAWBERRY FLOWERS FOR EVERYONE!

p.s. a few weeks later, I find this in my next strawberry purchase at T.J.’s, an extra long stem. Ok, maybe I am just easily pleased.?