All the world's a stage and we are merely players.

Christmas, holidays, my birthday and Haydn's and Nana Lady's visit have all passed like a high speed chase down the motorway.  An adrenaline rush with a knot of anxiety and a dash of financial relief.  It is a cruel budget that we created... having Christmas and both our birthdays all within 30 days and 1 pay check! With maxed out credit cards and a suntan, I have returned to work for another year at the salt mines.  Lucky for me, I like salt.

I long for my carefree childhood where my biggest concern was how long I could swim before I did my homework. I miss being a kid with no real responsibilities, simply taking direction and focusing on fun and playtime.  "Aah yes Grandma, that was a simpler time". 

My teens were a blast - memories of which make me chuckle with fondness and sometimes, cringe with regret.  The roaring twenties were fantastic, I grew up, married and had children.  Motherhood is challenging but thankfully has a high entertainment value. :-)

Now I am 39 and just one step away from the tip-top of that hill (the one that our parents are already over).  I have reached middle age (I think I am comfortable with being in this classification, the middle is not a bad place to be.  Is it?) and after some serious mentation, have realised that I am the age I always expected my parents to be.

That's right... all you 70's children out there, "We ARE the appropriate ADULTS!".  Not only responsible for our children, who we must ensure are growing into decent and law abiding citizens, but also the folk who need to assess, maintain and sometimes manage our parents well-being.  "How did this happen?  Yesterday I was sneaking a cigarette behind the shed and today I am a "clean living" mother of teenagers, a wife and a daughter of parents who are in their golden years!"

Yes, there is satisfaction in watching my beautiful girls growing into young women but this is mixed with the bitter cup of knowing that our older loved ones are slowly fading away. 

I am reminded of Shakespeare's monologue "all the world's a stage" and the stages of life.   Every act can be as good or as bad as we want it to be, even a time of great hardship can make a fantastic story.  I believe that every stage requires elements of action, excitement, joy and grief, it should stir the blood, anoint the soul and stimulate the mind.

I must admit though, this second childhood that "Olde Shakes" refers to is rather a scary concept.  We have worked so hard to progress, who the heck thought it was a good idea for us to go backwards!  What crap is that?  I can handle this 6th stage, with spectacles on nose but who would willingly sign up for the last? Nobody wants to lose sight, hearing and "everything"!


I am quite happy to grow old enough to see my grandchildren and wear inappropriate swimwear.  Yes, that will be liberating and fun.  I will happily drive around on my mobility scooter and run the insolent youths off the walkway, but not if I must wear a diaper.  Nah!  When I can't move around on my own anymore it is time to shut this bodysuit down!

I'll skip that final bit, I prefer not to act that out on my world stage.  Ummm no thanks, I'll pass, let me fast forward to the death scene with all my faculties intact thank you very much.  I am less afraid of death than dignity.


I salute these golden girls and boys and admit that senescence is not for wusses! Thank you for carrying the torch, not sure if I am glad that you have passed it.  I am not sure I will ever be ready to be this grownup.