There was an old woman who lived in a shoe

It's funny how I am becoming an old married lady when I'm admittedly married, but not really old. C'mon peeps, 30/31 is still a spring chicken. And you know it. My Grandma Lill told me one time that you get to a certain age and you never mentally or emotionally feel older than that. For her, it was 23 years old. I was skeptical. But now I shock myself when I realize that I'm not still 25. Because I seem like it. To me-self. I read a quote that stuck with me. "Old age is 15 years older than I am at the moment." Almost true. I'd add a few years to that, but yeah. It pretty much sums it up. After a conversation a few weeks back with someone much younger than me, I finally came to terms with the fact that I am an old married lady. I was hoping that I seem cooler than that. Uh, no. Apparently not. She didn't tell me I'm not, but our conversation about her and her mom's friends... I am one of her mom's friends. Don't get me wrong, this girl didn't say anything mean. She just said something about not being interested in their convos that much. Huh. We aren't that interesting, after all. Who knew?! Plus, when my (old) friend Penny was here, we talked bargains. And how when you are younger you don't give two hoots. And suddenly I was thinking to myself. "Oh. My. Goodness. Mindi. You are an old married lady! You care about the price of toilet paper! Geek!" I am, people! I'm just glad I realized it before I was 80 and trying to wear leather pants and a leopard print shirt with my hair billowing around my shoulders and dyed a horrible shade of yellow. Penny also said that immediately when you get married and have a baby, you are in the old married ladies club. True. When I first got married and I couldn't help but notice how all the old married ladies in church suddenly came and talked to me every Sunday after church. Crap. They all knew the secret looooong before me. Why didn't they just tell me what was a good price on toilet paper then, too? That's what I'm going to start doing to the newleyweds. Heck, I'll even write it in the wedding card. Funny thing is, those old married ladies really aren't that old anymore. Over and over I have heard that in your thirties you know who you are and accept yourself for who you are. I've learned this to be true, also. It seems so obvious to me now what my personality is like. Honestly, when I was younger, I couldn't see it the way I can now. Actually, it took personality tests (not even kidding) and comments about my personality from other people to realize who I am. It's a strange phenomenon. My guess is, I am not alone in this. It's one of those good surprises that comes with age. Clarification: It's one of those good surprises that comes with not-super-old-age. Unlike the realization that some people see you as an old married lady. Who, by the way, scored huge on some major deals grocery shopping today. Score! Oh, wait. I just sealed the deal, didn't I? Shoot. A monkey.