Finding your groove in the 50s

How come we don't have a show on television called 50-somethings? There are plenty of shows with the kiddies as stars, or the teens as stars, or the 20 and 30-somethings as stars. They even have movies and shows for the silver haired folks in their 60s and up club. What about the 50-somethings? Where's our movie or show? When I was younger I had all kinds of guidance. The Breakfast Club helped me through high school. Sex in the City helped me through my 20s. Comic books and movies helped me through the 30s and 40s. Now what? Whose representing the 50-somethings journey and pathways? I feel like I have no guidance. In a way, I like that. I'm too old to be listening to a drill sergeant or condescended to as if I haven't been around the block. Yet, there's still a piece of me that is uneasy and insecure about navigating on this new territory commonly called "over the hill" or "after the change". Big changes, big accomplishments, yet not much art or literature for guidance or reference as if the 50-somethings are in unfamiliar living situations. I trust my own instincts and judgements most of the time, but I do feel a discomfort of not having more movies and books to use as a reference for this phase/chapter of my aging experience.

Writers usually write what they know. Directors usually produce shows or movies based on what they think the population wants to know or what they think the population should know. Doesn't any artists of the last 20th century or new millenium care about the 50-somethings lifestyles? Let me clue you in John Hughes types, "The Breakfast Club" isn't enough for the 50-something journey.

I said I wanted to be the voice of the elderly and aging. I said I wanted to talk about being older and poor since most writers and creative contributors seem to avoid these conversations. I'm not afraid of being the pioneer on such topics or artistic expressions. I'm just not comfortable feeling like I'm all alone on the endeavor. References? Is that some kind of joke that we 50-something people should keep in our pocket?

Let me just talk about my Monday morning. It is now almost 10 a.m. as I type this article. I awoke before the sunrise around 4 or 5 a.m. but I did not check the clock for an exact time. I wanted coffee but felt so hazy that it was very difficult to get the coffee pot filled and going. I noticed the mess that I left on the floor last night because I was too scatterbrained and tired to clean up before I passed out. I felt grungy and wanted a shower because I leak on myself most nights. I miss my cat and all of the pets I've ever had and loved so I talk to my stuffed animals who are not as demanding. After breakfast, I go talk to the plants, trees, and flowers in the garden and try to figure out how I can help them and the garden improve. Then I go back inside and think about chores like sweeping, mopping, dishes, laundry, hanging clothes, organizing my art projects, filling the printer with ink and paper, beating myself up because I bought the wrong item at the general store, and generally feeling all alone and overwhelmed at the multitude of tasks that I want to do fully knowing that it can not all be accomplished in one day.

Do I want to chat with possible love interests online? Why? I'm divorced and fought hard to find my peace. It's just going to get in my way when I know all the tasks I want to do and I'm already struggling with time management. Do I want to read all the books that were on my reading list 10 or 20 years ago? No. I just want the cliff notes or the movie because I don't have that much time left to spend on reading, when I'm trying to produce as a writer. Do I want to watch the Cooking Channel and improve my menu and diet? Not really. Sure, I'd like to drop 10 or 20 pounds to be considered the proper weight, but I don't have anyone important to impress with some personal version of Better Crocker expertise. I get excited now when I get to order my favorite pizza or get my favorite sub at Jimmy Johns or Publix. Do I want to watch a movie about careers that I'll never have or do? Nah. Do I want to watch a movie or show about young girls and young boys playing romantic games or gossiping about each other? Been there, done that, BORING! Do I want to watch the news anchors talk about terrible weather or another shooting or murder or governmental headache? No thanks, I'm trying to keep my blood pressure down. Hold the salt --- as a matter of fact, just skip the rice and give me a banana.

So what have I been doing this morning for the past 5 hours? I took a shower. I folded and hung yesterday's laundry. I charged my cellphone and tablet. I checked my emails and calendar. I looked at the photos of the crafts I'm selling online to see if they were presentable enough. I looked over my costume for Halloween and wondered if I'll be up to going out for a party. I started a bucket of compost fertilizer for my plants in the garden. I put on my newest dress and felt dazzling. Then I sat here at the computer and looked over the communities at Vocal noticing which areas get flooded quickly and which areas were being less noticed or neglected. Then I began to type this article.

Does that sound exciting enough for a show or movie? No. That's probably why there isn't a show or movie for 50-somethings. Welcome to the 50-something's club - days and nights of busy boring doings that are totally not exciting enough to be considered entertaining. Ho Hum Yawn. I'm a BORING old lady and my days and nights are filled with a bunch of busy nothings. Oh well. At least now we know why I have no references.