Generations

The word Generation is not a bad word.  I always viewed it in a positive light.  It brings together groups of people with a common interest (age?  not really an interest, but go with me here).  Hearing the term growing up, I thought of older people when I thought in terms of generations.  Though I didn't necessarily associate the word with "old".  But now ... I'm not liking it much.

In my teens, I wasn't a huge fan of the current/pop music of my day.  I listened to Classic Rock, mostly.  The classic rock station (was it 92.3? - they all change so much but I'm thinking it was 92.3) played rock of the 60's and early 70's.  At the time, I said that I was born 10 to 15 years too late.  I was all about the "classic".

Recently as I was driving to work, I noticed a Classic Rock billboard.  Woohoo! nostalgia.  So, I turned off the CD player in my car and tuned the station to the Classic Rock station I saw advertised.  Apparently, I had missed the "Next Generation" on the sign.  The music playing was not what I knew as classic rock.  It was music that came out after I became an adult.  Wrong.  Just plain wrong.  Classic rock is music that came out BEFORE my time.  Music that came out when "old people" were young.  Now, what is advertised as classic rock came out when I was an adult?  That almost sounds like they are calling me old.

Then, I hear the station id/self-advertising commercial.  And do you know what they said?  "This isn't the classic rock your dad listened to".  Ummmm...it's not even the classic rock I listened to.  I can't possibly be outside of the demographics for a classic rock station, can I?  Seriously.  I'm not that old.

This didn't just happen.  My first experiences with being called old came about during my pregnancy with Chloe.  I was of "Advanced Maternal Age" and got lots of extra ultrasounds and tests.  The doctor (the specialist who specializes in old mom's) used that term a LOT with me.  Advanced Maternal Age.  It doesn't make me feel better.  It doesn't smooth the "you're OLD" sting that comes from the words.  I know what advanced and age mean.  It means I'm one of those chicks who should be too old to have kids but refuses to recognize it.  It means I'm OLD.   

I always assumed that I would age well.  I wouldn't move into my 40's kicking and screaming.  I know age is just a number and not a state of mind.  If I ignore it, I can pretend it isn't there.  Unfortunately people around me keep reminding me.  I'm not a spring chicken anymore.  No matter how much I feel like one on the inside (deeper inside that bones and joints because they do a great job of reminding me that I'm getting old). 

Pass the cane and the jello, please.