Mid Life Check In

OK, so I turned 50 this past May. Has my life changed since I have become a senior citizen? Not really. Was something big supposed to be happen? Was I supposed to have it all figured out about the meaning of life? Was my body and mind supposed to start failing me?

Fifty seemed old when you were kids. Now you find yourself at this age… and you think to yourself, heck I am still young! I still love to walk, dance, hike, swim, etc. I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches still, and I still love Madonna. Was I supposed to start eating prunes and loving “Matlock”?

And what’s with all the AARP mailings? So far, they are wasting their money on me. I looked at the benefits, and there was nothing that I would use! So I will put off on joining at this time. I have yet to find a place where I can get a discount for being 50. Most discounts are for being 60 or 65 that I see.

I am thankful for my health. Other than some occasional arthritis, and diminished vision, I am doing well. I am glad that I am similar weight to when I was in college. Yes, I have more gray hair, and it is thinning a little now too, but that’s all OK. I am going to enjoy being a sexy silver daddy when I’m at that point… but I am not there yet.

Career is going pretty good. I have a job that I like… and I am respected there. Am I where I thought I would be? No, absolutely not. But I am not in a bad place either.

It’s exciting to be planning my wedding at 50. My partner and I have waited a long time for this moment. For most of our life together, we couldn’t get married because we were gay. We could have had a commitment ceremony, but honestly I never thought too much about it. Then with Prop. 8 in California, and ultimately it’s turnover, marriage was back on the table. Yeah, we don’t have $20,000 to put towards it, but we do have years of love, and when it happens it is going to be beautiful.

I am grateful and thankful to God for all that he has blessed me with. I am happy that I have loving friends and family around me. I am thankful that I have a supportive spouse that I can enjoy my journey with. I look forward to aging gracefully, and rewriting the rules on what a senior looks and acts like.

KiltManinSoCal is a Los Angeles-based writer and designer. Be sure to check out the latest T-Shirts for sale here, including Marriage Equality and Real Men Wear Kilts lines. They make great gifts for friends, family and loved ones.

Reflections on Turning 50

I am having a milestone birthday this year. I will be turning 50 on May 5^th. It is hard to believe. I have had a good life, and time has certainly flown by. Am I exactly where I want to be in my life? Not quite — but I am still in a good place.

I have so much to be thankful and grateful for. I see every day as a gift from God.

When I look back on my tough teenage years, I am certainly glad that I held on —even though those were some dark days. I have had so many amazing life experiences and interacted with some wonderful people over the years. I have definitely been blessed.

Sure I have had my share of drama and hard times, but I certainly hope that those times have made me a better, stronger person. I have come to love and accept myself, after struggling with low self-esteem for years. I have also come into my own as a person and a man. Yes, I am an interesting person, and yes, I am beautiful in my own way. As the unique individual that God made me to be.

When I walk down the street, I can’t say I feel much different than I did in my 40’s. When I look in the mirror though, I am starting to see my features change — I am looking more and more like my brother (not that that is a bad thing).

I am thankful to still have my parents, and my siblings. And most of all, I have a wonderful life partner and soon to be husband.

I have yet to receive my AARP membership card yet, but I will take any discounts that I can get! But for some reason, there is no standard age for when you are a senior. For some places it is 50, others, 55, 60, or 65.

I want to continue to be active: to go on hikes, go dancing, bike riding and more. I want to see Madonna on her 70^th birthday tour. I want to laugh and share fun times with family and friends. I want to travel and see more of the world. There is much to look forward to and feel good about as I head into my next decade.

KiltManinSoCal is a Los Angeles-based writer and designer. Be sure to check out the latest T-Shirts for sale here, including Marriage Equality and Real Men Wear Kilts lines. They make great gifts for friends, family and loved ones.