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My sixty-three four-year-old self
I am 63 years old in my body, but I am really four on the inside.
Four is a perfect age. I enjoy the innocence, the energy and their creative mind. It's an age of wonder and discovery. There are few inhibitions and four-year-olds believe they can do anything. Yes, I'm definitely four!
I started to notice this after watching my granddaughter. She has no idea that she sings like her grandmother. I usually apologize to people in the pew in front of me at church, "I'm sorry, but God gave me this voice so I have to sing. I won't be offended if you move." She, on the other hand, holds a karaoke show in her room and the family must all attend. She wiggles, giggles and sings so loud the windows shake.
After spending a few days with her, I inherited her spirit. On the plane home, I decided to channel my four-year-old self. The change was revitalizing. I smile more. I laugh more. I appreciate life more. Here are just a few things that I have noticed:
I like to giggle. Giggling is contagious and it makes wrinkles disappear.
I noticed how my flowered skirt flows in the breeze when I twirl. When I dance, I lift it up a little higher and twirl some more. I watch myself in the mirror and laugh when I do this. Sometimes I laugh so hard I pee a little.
I can sing really well, if no one is listening. If people can hear me, I sing really loud even though they make funny faces when I sing. Some people hold their ears, but maybe they have an earache.
I like to watch the moon and the stars at night. I wonder how far away they are. Some nights I feel like I could touch the moon with my nose, like an Eskimo kiss.
I like to hunt for the tree frog in my plants. I can hear her singing, but I can't find her. I know she's hiding in my hanging baskets. Some days she sits on the top of my doorway. I love those days. I say, "Good morning! I'm so happy to see you today." She stares at me. Maybe she's an elderly frog. I wish she should sing and maybe shake her little suction-cup finger at me as a wave hello.
I like to write with bright color pens and markers. I like smooth, gel pens that are multicolored. Purple, orange and green are my favorite. My desk pad at work looks like a happy kindergartener keeps my schedule. Sometimes there are flowers, balloons and birthday cakes that take up the entire two-inch block of that day. There are a lot of suns with bright beams shooting out, too.
I like to make marshmallow treats in different shapes. My hands get all sticky, but I keep making shapes. Horses, dogs, cats…so fun!
I like my hair to stick up. When my hair was longer, I had French braids, buns and twists. I wore one-sided pony tails. Now that my hair is short and I'm older, I fluff up the back with mousse. My husband says it looks like a chicken is stuck on my head, but I like it. My inner little girl thinks it looks fantabulous!
I really want a horse. I want to comb her mane and talk to her. I want her big eyes to look right into mine. I'm pretty sure I understand horse language. I'd feed her an apple and a carrot and we'd be girlfriends. I don't really want to clean her stall, but I would. I don't want my girlfriend to live in a stinky stall.
I love sparkly fingernail polish. I really like polka dots. …I call them "Polka-spots" on top of each nail. Glittery purple nails with red polka spots make me smile.
My favorite thing to do on a rainy day is to walk with my umbrella and step in puddles. Splash!
My next favorite thing to do, after puddle jumping, is to watch a funny movie and eat popcorn.
I like to watch snowflakes fall from the sky. I stick my tongue out to catch one. I wish they tasted like Life Savers candy, but they don't.
It's so fun to make a snow angel. I lie on my back in the falling snow and make my wings as big as I want. Sometimes I close my eyes and imagine an angel is helping me.
Sea shells! I love to fill a bucket with sea shells. I only pick special shells. I like the shiny ones that a crab used to call home. Some round shells have a hole that I could make into a necklace.
I like to write in the sand. I can make a house, a car, a star, the sun, a big heart, a smiley face and so many other things.
I wish my mom and dad were still alive. I also wish my grand mom and grand pop were here, too. We could all go on a picnic together.
My favorite nap time is when my puppies sleep in my bed. They are so excited to be on my pillow, even though they snore. I don't mind.
I love my friends. They are the best! We laugh so much. Sometimes we cry and we tell each other it will be alright. We hug each other. That's what friends do.
Most women my age realize they are turning into their mothers. I'm turning into my granddaughter!
What a wonderful world!
- Anne Bardsley
Anne Bardsley lives in St Petersburg, Fla., with her "wrinkle maker" of a husband and two spoiled cockatoos. She's still recovering from raising five children. She is so happy she didn't strangle them as teenagers as they've given her beautiful grandchildren. She is the author of How I Earned My Wrinkles: Musings on Marriage, Motherhood and Menopause. She blogs at Anne Bardsley: Perfectly Imperfect.