Deep, or at Least Random, Thoughts for the New Year

Suddenly, we've arrived at the end of 2012. Because I’m too exhausted to party after last week’s celebrations, I’m sitting here in my jammies waiting to ring in the new year with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin on CNN. I have my celebratory Diet Squirt ready to pop at 10:00 p.m. mountain time when that ball drops in NYC.

Some random thoughts cross my mind:

• I have turned 50. 50! I don't know quite what to do with that, except maybe take a nap. I'm told that the 50s are a time to give back. Hmmm. Wait, was that give back or get back? Perhaps it is time to get back at people for all the stuff they've done to me.
• Just because I live with cats, doesn't mean I'm not also a "dog person." Why do you have to be one or the other?
• I like kids. Just not the ones that throw rocks at my windows.
• Money does not buy happiness, but it sure makes some things easier.
• Nothing enlivens the middle of the night like an anxiety attack.
• With my father's passing, I am now part of the oldest generation in my family. Whether this renders me a wise sage guiding the younger folks through the life's bumpy paths remains to be seen. More likely, a niece or nephew will be wondering whether they should invite old Uncle Bill to Sunday dinner this week, or could they put it off until later. I have started to practice asking my niece, Hannah, "Can you take me back to the home now? Matlock's on at 10:00."
• Buying that new (TV, computer, blue ray, etc.) didn't solve all my problems.
• It's difficult to be philosophical about vacuuming when the cats regularly throw up hairballs onto the newly cleaned carpet.
• One of the cats, Charles, will not allow the litter box to be clean. If I scoop the poop out, he immediately uses it. I don't get to enjoy a clean litter box even for a minute.
• Cooking at home saves money but sometimes the food isn't very good.
• Things are, over all, getting better. Sure, we have to deal with climate change and that supervolcano in Yellowstone is going to blow any time. But Obama was re-elected in spite of the typical Republican shenanigans. Technology, while challenging, really does improve our lives. Homophobia is in decline. The crime rate (high profile murders not withstanding) is falling to the point where they are even closing prisons in some places.
• Sometimes the only reason you do something is because it's the right thing to do.

Happy New Year.

Perky Coworker Reminds Me I'm Old

She sings a chipper "Good morning!" to me every day. I grunt in reply.

She literally texts her friends while she works, with no apparent distraction. I have to wear headphones so I'm not distracted by her giggling with other twenty-somethings nearby.

Either I'm too old or she's too young. She's 24. I'm 50 next week.

When she was born in 1988, I was older than she is now.

I have t-shirts that pre-date her. Most of my pots and pans were purchased before she existed, with S&H Green Stamps no less. I guarantee she doesn't know what Green Stamps are. If you don't know, Google it - it's how we used to get free stuff before credit card rewards programs.

In 1988 I was in graduate school, already jaded and cynical.

In 1988, Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted. I'm just now getting around to watching it.

I did watch a show called Thirtysomething, about some old people in their 30s.

In 1988 I also watched the Golden Girls. They were funny old ladies back then. When I watch the same episodes now, they seem much younger - how did that happen?

The youngsters I work with don't seem much bothered by our age differences. It's my hang up. They, like I, work hard and are deserving of respect.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking I should clean out my spice cupboard - some of that ground basil may remember the 1980s as well.