Golden Girl - 50 years in the making :)

Its official - I have attained the Golden age. I can now boast of having half a century worth of life experience.  Many saw it coming. AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) sent me a " Welcome to the "50's club" application offering senior discounts for a variety of services.  Another vendor sent me discount coupons for adult diapers to prevent any leaks that might happen. An app on my phone reminded me of all the additional medical checks,I should do after today.  Now I can walk into the senior center feeling more comfortable. In a few more years i can start claiming senior discounts at grocery stores and get cheaper movie and airline tickets too.  I even get to compete in the senior games.  Truly the golden age.
 Its been filled with lots of love beginning with my parents, who had me after my two older, smarter siblings.  The brains were distributed between my older sister and brother,  so i got all the love. They got love too but i just got more. Both, my brother and sister, would spare no efforts to let me know that they were the older ones.  More importantly, they have loved me, in spite of our pillow fights and door slamming disagreements.  

My Husband and my Son, continue to shower me with more unconditional love and put up with all my hormonal imbalances and mood swings and eat everything i cook, with or without me.  

There were a few firsts.  My Husband was a step ahead, he got to the ancient age a few months earlier and so we started the celebrations with a trip to UK, Scotland and Paris.  Family vacations are always fun specially when all of us want to do different things at the same time.  We were somehow able to sync and watched the Cricket World cup match between India and West Indies.  Dancing and cheering along with thousands of other fans and food and drinks getting spilled on your head, watching passionate fans take off their shirt and whirl it in the air and reveal their 3- 12 pack abs.  Amazing experience!  We visited the temple ( stadium and museum) of Manchester United and Liverpool.  I am sure had they let me set foot on the United field, their fortunes would have been different. Liverpool did and they are at the top of the table.  Next stop was Scotland and how can one not love that place, the people,the accent, humor?  Had the most beautiful experience with the people and the country there. That country is a piece of heaven and its pricey but its lovely. 

Paris needs little introduction.   Just a day trip but made most of it by including a trip to a Table Tennis store on route to the Eiffel tower. Paris continues to draw crowds and still maintains its charm.   World cup Cricket and Football / Soccer stadium tours done, it would not be justified, to have returned without watching Wimbledon. So we stood in the very very long line, under a very hot sun for over three hours and finally got our tickets and walked into the Mecca of Tennis.  Watched some amazing games and had close encounters with tennis stars making way to or out of courts. Not completely satisfied we decided, we have to watch the US Open Tennis as well and so we did.   Flushing Meadows - NY was as good as it could get even from the highest seats.  It didn't bother us that at times we would mix up players from that height. We could always fix that after watching the replay on the big screen. The electric atmosphere, cool temperatures, fabulous tennis is all it takes to make fans into coaches and analysts other than being non playing players like me :) 

Next, I decided to participate in my first Table Tennis Tournament ( ITTF World Veterans Tour), in almost 20 years. I was on a self imposed training schedule and very few people knew that i was planning to compete. I arrived alone in Florida but returned after meeting amazing people and making some wonderful friends and also won a couple of Bronze medals and learnt some very valuable lessons. 

A trip to India is a must and this time we went to the ancient town of Hampi. I got to learn the amazing history of the place and the people. Hampi's natural stone formations are best experienced, description and pictures do little justice.

The best part of travel to India is time with family and friends.  Our time with parents and siblings were fun even without disagreements and pillow throws.  I am extremely lucky and thankful. I have the most amazing in laws. My sister in law is my confidant and my father in law and mother in law are my biggest supporters.  

My Mom continues to make me feel like a teenager and my brother keeps reminding me that he is the older one.  These are moments, that i always enjoy and cherish. I know that my sisters and my dad are looking out for me from another world. I miss them!

My friends have been with me through most of this journey, pushing me to do the right thing, standing up for me, sharing my grief , playing TT with me, celebrating with me, reminding me that i am still very very young, bless their hearts.  Friends are special. They will all get AARP referrals, diaper discount coupons, from me. 

I have been diagnosed with OCTTPD. I have had this for a while, many close to me recognized it, but i have escaped quarantine. I have passed it on to a few others but no one has complained so i guess my Obsessive Compulsive Table Tennis Playing Disorder will be allowed to exist. Medications include, rackets, balls, tables etc.

I will be stepping into the next decade, with the support and love of family and friends, AARP card, fixed joints, maybe discounted diapers, maybe new teeth, some hair loss, poor eyesight, slower response and most  definitely  my TT  game and gear.  

This journey has been possible due to all the love and good wishes that have been coming my way so please keep them flowing and i am not shy, i accept presents too :)