While I wrote, I was listening to Taylor Swift's hit song, We Are Never, Ever Getting Back Together, and it occurred to me how absolute things used to be in my younger days. Love was the highest high, but was also much easier to walk away from. As I hurtle toward the big 4-0, I find it's much harder to discard relationships (that's good news for the mister...or is it? *insert evil laugh*).
It calls to mind a study I read--not sure why I read it, but I did--stating that aging female cockroaches are much less picky when it comes to mating than young female cockroaches (http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/1864/title/Roach_gals_get_less_choosy_as_time_goes_by). Okay, I don't like the analogy much either. As I sit here eating my raisin and walnut oatmeal, I like my comparison less and less, but it is appropriate. For some reason, it seems, as females age, we have a greater capacity to overlook crap that would've gotten a lover (or cockroach) kicked to the curb in our youth.
Is it that older women know something younger women don't, such as a hard man is good to find *grin*? Is it that we're more patient with other people's flaws having experienced our own foibles? Is it that we're just too tired to give a shit? I do know that the more you weather with a partner, the harder it is to toss him out over one argument. And maybe we middle-aged folk just know never to say never. I think perhaps it's a combination of all that.
The only thing I'm sure of is that my version of the song would go something like: We...are maybe, one day, if I feel vulnerable or lonely or just plain horny and you look good in your jeans, getting back together.
Now it's your turn. Do you think we are more tolerant and more likely to form long term relationships as we age? If so, what's your theory on why it happens? And again, sorry about the cockroach thing.
4 comments:
LOL, well I've just got to the stage (and I'm in my early 50s) where I'm beyond looking...too settled in my own skin.
But, yes, I was more tolerant in my 30s and 40s....
LOL, I think I'm beyond looking as well. Honestly, if I found myself single, I'd probably just stay that way unless someone fell in my lap and wiggled :)
That last line made me laugh out loud, Cindy! I think I've gotten progressively more tolerant. At this point, who wants to start over?! It's so much effort! :) :) Great post!
I agree, Cari. Starting over is waaaay too much like work. Who wants to go through all the song, dance and body hair removal? :)
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