CULTURE/SOCIETY: Thirty is the New Black?

I found this on one of the blogs I keep an eye on my netvibes.comhomepage. Being in my 40s, I found this amusing and have added a few comments of my own at the end. - OlderMusicGeek.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007
thirty is the new black

When I arrived at work today, I saw that signs had been posted around the building notifying everyone that today was the birthday of H., one of our HR girls. There was a big, colorful "Happy Birthday" banner outside of her office and smaller signs had been taped to various walls and doors saying "H. is 30 today!" These smaller signs also had some sort of clip art on them, but it wasn't until I got closer I noticed it was a picture of the grim reaper with the words OVER THE HILL!

Ah, how I remember those days when I had aunts and uncles making a big deal about turning 50. Then there was the year my dad turned 40 and everybody at his office wore black armbands and passed out black roses to all the employees. But 30? Is this really the new scary age? Most people don't even figure out who the (intercourse) they are until their mid-twenties, and that's if they are incredibly fortunate, which doesn't leave much time to win the Triple Crown before being put out to pasture (Yeah. I know. But I've spent the past year living in two of the biggest horse cities around. So sue me.)

What does this mean for my relationship, where one of us is over the hill and one of us is still climbing it? (And, just by looking at our blogs, I'm fairly certain it's pretty obvious which one of us is still in the prime of her life, given that I have the fun, pink, perky layout. Oh. Wait....). A six-year age difference doesn't seem like much, but when looked at from this perspective, why, it's practically a may-december romance.

I'll be 27 when I graduate with my master's degree, so I suppose it's best to know this sort of information sooner rather than later. Though it's a little daunting to think that as soon as I get a job I'm going to have to start planning my retirement from it. I guess it's just a good thing I was smart enough to spend my twenties going to school for careers that guarantee lots and lots of money.

Posted by Tudor Rose at 1:54 PM

Like I wrote earlier, I found this amusing - being in my 40s and all.

I just find it strange - as science extends our life span, we expect people - and even children! - at a younger and younger age to know and plan their whole life out. Who knows what they really want out of life as teens or even in their twenties? And the way technology is changing everything, one might just have to throw out all their plans anyway!

And I remember when 50 was over the hill and surprised to find a 40-year-old co-worker getting all those over the hill signs. And was wondering if she's over the hill, then what's that mean for me.

But as I thought about it. Most of us won't live over 80, so 40 is definitely the mid-point - if not passed the mid-point - of our lives.

I'll admit that it kind of scared me - thinking that I already finished over half my life. But it made me think and realize some things too. But to face things than to run away from them.

So I'm working on my retirement more. Trying to save up for my daughter's college - which starts in less than a decade. And thinking about what I want out of my life. Thinking about maybe after my daughter finishes college, it will be time for me to go back. :)

Getting older brings new perspective, whether it's turning 30, 40, or 50 or whatever. So I guess in the end, all I can say is - I think facing it is better than hiding.