#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

In Which We Put On Our Big Girl Pants

July 29, 2012 · Narrative


Just the Facts
My OB-GYN gave me the piece of paper nearly two years ago. Her handwriting scrawled on the top with my name, age, and the current date. Her signature on the bottom. Just a routine formality. I was months away from turning 40. It was that time.

The dreaded mammogram.

But why so dreaded? As I explained to Nick, who waited in a private waiting room, doodling and watching TV, it’s the fear of the unknown. I knew it was no big deal. I have had many friends who have gone for theirs. I was making it a bigger deal in my head than was necessary. I knew all this.

I had run into an old neighbor at our local bagel shop last year, and she had just come back from hers. I mentioned that the piece of paper had been in my wallet for over a year at that point; I kept putting it off. She urged me to go.

She told me, “Really, you’ll be fine!” She even told me to call her when I went and she would go with me and hold my hand if I wanted.

Um, yeah. Because having your boobs on display in front of a stranger isn’t bad enough. I should bring a bigger audience with me. Yeah, no thank you. So it took about another year from that chance encounter for me to actually go, or to follow through with an appointment.

And the real reason I did it? These two.

all stars

I have three great fears in life. Getting old. Dying. And house fires. So says the control freak. There’s no shortage of irony in that my three great fears are pretty much things I can’t control.

But here’s the thing: I can sort of control something. Although getting old scares me sometimes, not getting old scares me more. I would hate to have my life cut short because of something I could have prevented. I have so much left I want to do with my life, and so much I want to do, share, and experience with the kids. And I’ll be darned if I’m going let a five minute exam stand in the way of getting old.

These days, we live longer. We live better. We’re better educated. About everything. I went for the mammogram for the kids. And now that it’s no longer an “unknown,” I’ll go every year. No question.

“How was it?” a co-worker asked me when I got back to the office.

“Well, as long as you don’t mind getting felt up by a complete stranger and getting squished and stretched between two pieces of glass, it’s no big deal.”

And, of course, it wasn’t. Whatever scenario we create in our mind is always way worse than the actual event. And that little piece of paper that arrived a few weeks later? Proclaiming a normal mammogram exam? Made it all totally worth it.

Although getting old still makes me a bit uneasy, I’m going to do everything I can to get there. While I was at the mammogram facility, I took picture of some scary statistics and forwarded it to a few people who I knew were behind in going. If those numbers don’t motivate you, I don’t know what will.

In the meantime, getting old is a slightly, ever so slightly, less scary situation.

The folks at Pfizer have a fun web site that they’ve put together if getting old is on your mind too. Did you know that 36% of people are uneasy about getting old? At least my worries aren’t irrational. Or I have great company in them.

Join the conversation about getting older at Get Old. You can share how you feel about aging and communicate with others who are at various stages of the aging process. Truly, aging is a process, and there’s something we can do at all stages to make our lives more healthy, longer, and more fulfilling. Find out what those things are at Get Old.

How do you feel about aging? What are you doing to help make yourself more comfortable with the process? Leave a comment and be entered to win one of three $500 SpaFinder gift cards. Please note winners will be selected from the comment pool of all participating bloggers

For your convenience, here are highlights from the Official Rules for the Sweepstakes. Please note by submitting an entry you are agreeing to the full Official Rules, available here.
No duplicate comments.
Please do not mention or imply any pharmaceutical products in your posts. Posts that mention or imply a pharmaceutical product will be subject to removal.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt at the bottom of this post.*
b) Read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

*Note: if you want to comment but either (i) are not eligible or (ii) do not want to enter the giveaway, please include something similar to the following statement in your comment: “I do not wish to enter the sweepstakes.”

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Medical professionals who are licensed (or are otherwise authorized) to prescribe medications are not eligible to enter. While BlogHer encourages you to share your thoughts and experiences about getting older, comments discussing medical conditions and/or medical products are not permitted, may be deleted, and are invalid entries. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

This sweepstakes runs from 7/30 to 8/31.

Be sure to check out the BlogHer.com Get Old page to find out more about the Get Old platform and read how other bloggers feel about aging.

PS – The Weekend Photos in Review will be back tomorrow night.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: getting old, mammogram, Pfizer

Comments

  1. Sarah Caron says

    July 30, 2012 at 12:48 am

    Great message! And so true. It’s important that we do these things — not just for ourselves, but for our kids.
    Sarah Caron recently posted..Crispy Garlic Herb Oven Fries

    Reply
  2. Mellisa W says

    July 30, 2012 at 7:34 am

    I have felt old for years, the number does not matter. I may feel old, but I am happy.

    Reply
  3. Kim of Mo'Betta says

    July 30, 2012 at 10:01 am

    Great post! Cancer is so bad in my family that I will be 40 next week and have already had to have a mammogram, colonoscopy, AND an endoscopy! But, like you, I would rather be proactive. Thank God everything has been normal so far! (and a mammogram is nothing compared to the colonoscopy! Which isn’t as bad as I had imagined…but still!)
    Kim of Mo’Betta recently posted..Healthier Chocolate Truffles and Haystacks!

    Reply
  4. Joanne says

    July 30, 2012 at 10:22 am

    Colon cancer runs in my family and so I’ve been trying to convince my mother for years to go for a colonoscopy since really, if you have them regularly, colon cancer is pretty much totally preventable. I’ll have to show her this post.
    Joanne recently posted..Recipe: Roasted Potatoes, Zucchini and Corn Tostadas with Romesco Sauce (food matters project}

    Reply
  5. Ramona says

    July 30, 2012 at 10:27 am

    I hate going. I call it my yearly poke and torture exam. But, I go. And I survive.

    Reply
  6. Jeri says

    July 30, 2012 at 7:42 pm

    I don’t want deep wrinkles and have lived under sunblock and moisturizer since my late 20’s. I have a Shar Pei, and I don’t need to look like one! Whatever I put on my face, I put on my upper chest. The skin on my chest and face will match when I hit my 60’s.

    The part I like the least is the milestone reminders from my doctor. It’s the mental thing. I don’t feel 40, so it’s not my favorite thing to have her comment on it. The mammo itself was not a big deal. Now it’s just a necessary item on the to-do list.

    Reply
  7. Linda says

    August 14, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    I want to see my kids grow up and get married some day, getting old isn’t all bad

    Reply
  8. Mel says

    August 14, 2012 at 12:52 pm

    I look forward to retirement and traveling in my “old age”

    Reply
  9. Sean says

    August 14, 2012 at 12:55 pm

    31 is already too old for me, but with age comes freedom to say whatever you want and get away with it!

    Reply
  10. Kelly D says

    August 14, 2012 at 7:42 pm

    I feel uneasy, but I look to older people around me who are doing well as an inspiration.

    Reply
  11. Kerry says

    August 25, 2012 at 10:04 pm

    I feel very uneasy about aging – but I know I will just have to deal with it!

    Reply
  12. kristine says

    August 29, 2012 at 10:42 pm

    I’m trying not to focus on age… just keeping busy, keeping active, and enjoying the moment. It’s just a number :)

    Reply
  13. Betty C says

    August 31, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    My children and even my grandchildren are adults so I don’t worry about leaving them alone. My worry is about my ability to take care of myself. I don’t like relying on other people so I want to be able to physically and financially take care of myself.

    Reply
  14. anash says

    August 31, 2012 at 11:31 pm

    i feel good about it. as long as i am getting old, it means im still living, and to me ::wink: thats a good thing
    Thanks for a super giveaway!

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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