The Stress of Getting Older

I recently visited my favorite kind of doctor. I didn't even realize that 4 years have passed since I last experienced the joy that only comes from this type of visit. It certainly seems like only yesterday! What I discovered was that as I get older I have more and more stress about these visits. I remember going to the doctor 20 years ago just being mildly irritated about these appointments. It is definitely different now that I am (gasp) 45 years old.

Now, I don't just see my friendly gynecologist...now I get to see the mammogram technician, the ultrasound technician, and the technician who gets to draw enough blood to make any mosquito envious. My doctor's orders for blood work had so many check marks on the page that I was tempted to put checks in the other boxes just to be able to scream "BINGO".

When did this happen? When did I get old enough to need every test under the sun to see if I am likely to live another year? I don't know - I sure as heck don't feel old enough to need to see every Tom, Dick & Harry to get a clean bill of health. This shouldn't be necessary for someone as young as me - it is for old people!

Stressful? Yep. Likely to get even more stressful every year? Yep. So what runs through Kim's thoughts? It's stressful getting older!

Books vs. Movies

This past weekend I purchased a few novels. My husband & I had a discussion about the pros & cons of paying $7 for a book. I feel that even though $7 is pricey, it is money well spent. I don't read the book and then just toss it in the trash. No, the book goes on a journey as a donation to my library, to the Friends of the Library booksale, or a used bookstore where others may then enjoy it. It is recycling at its finest!

Compare the cost of a book to a trip to the movie theater. It costs between $6.50 and $9.00 to see a movie that is usually 90 minutes to 2 hours long. What happens when the movie is over? Do others benefit from your purchase? Nope - only Hollywood.

So my thought is this...paying $7 for a book is difficult; however, paying $7 for a movie is even more difficult. What is your opinion?

My Man in the Twilight Zone

As time goes on, I am more certain than ever that men exist in some Twilight Zone...or at least my husband does. Let me share some examples with you -

• I have worked the same schedule for months (if not years). My schedule is taped on our calendar at home with my hours brightly highlighted with a highlighter. I rarely go a week without my husband asking me about my work schedule. I got so frustrated with him that I decided it was necessary to give him a "pop quiz" and ask him what time I get off of work on a certain day. You can see smoke billowing from his ears as he tries to remember my schedule and pretend that he remembers!
  
  
• I went for an eye exam last week and told him that my prescription had changed for both close up & distance. The love of my life had the audacity to say "oh, I guess you need bifocals now?" I couldn't believe it - I have had bifocals for 2 years already!

Is my husband the only male with this brain pattern or is he just like any other man in the world? I guess I'm going to believe that all men are the same way and be thankful that he even remembers that I wear glasses! If I'm lucky, maybe he'll also forget that I'm not perfect either!