Is it possible to grow old overnight?

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Is it possible to grow old overnight?

Topic Author: Jessica Ralston

Posted: 8:10 PM Jan 31, 2008

Replies Posted: 16 comments

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Is it possible to grow old overnight?

The other night I was suddenly inspired to tackle a project I have been avoiding for years and I mean YEARS! I finally decided to go through boxes and boxes of pictures and start putting them into albums.

Here's where it gets really scary (and pathetic.) I thought I was just a few years behind on getting this done. Turns out I had pictures from HIGH SCHOOL that need to be organized. We're talking almost 15 years people! How is it that 15 years went by of me telling myself "I need to get these pictures into albums." The last time I put pictures in an album was from my high school graduation. WOAH!

Needless to say, this leaves me with a LOT of work to do to finally get caught up. It also leaves me to realize that I'm getting older. I was looking at pictures of my best friend's wedding from 6 years ago. All I could think of was how young we looked. I just don't look like that anymore. Could we really age that much in 6 years? And, what WAS I thinking? That I would never get wrinkles, my skin would never sag? I can't remember a time in my 20's when I ever really thought that I would start to age. I was clearly swimming in a deep sea of denial.

I know there are others out there who can relate. It's like you wake up one morning, look in the mirror and say "What happened? When did I get frown lines? Are those laugh lines? Crows feet? What is going on here?" For a while, I kept telling myself it was just dry skin and that if I moisturized 3 times a day, those "lines" would magically disappear (truly hilarious thinking back on it) .Now, I see the light.

Strangely enough, every time I see my close circle of friends, I never think that they look older. We've grown up together and even though most are married with kids, I still see them as my young crazy girlfriends.

The true test will come in August. We are having our 15 year high school reunion. It terrifies me that we are only 5 away from our 20th, but that's an issue for another blog (: So, I will have to check out people at the 15th and see if they look older too and I just can't see it in my friends. Funny, I remember when we were 18, we thought women who were 30 were OLD. Really, we did. How's the saying go? Youth is wasted on the young.

Posted by: Bridgett Well...I think we must be very close to the same age. I'll be 33 this year, in December. Seriously, Jessica...my mom wasn't much older than me when I graduated from high school! ::sigh:: Time sure flies. And about the photo albums? I have a HUGE box of pictures upstairs, mostly of the kids, that need put into albums. Wanna help? :)

Posted by: JOSH G YOU LOOK YOUNG.YOU DON'T LOOK A DAY OVER 20 I BET WHEN YOU ARE 70 YOU COULD PASS FOR 30 OR 35 YOUR BIGGEST FAN

Posted by: old and lovin it Stop worrying about how u look, you still have years to worry and get more wrinkles.I recently ran into someone i graduated with and she looked alot older than me so just keep in mind when u go to your reunion look for people who have not aged as well as you and you won't feel so bad about yourself. Your still beautiful and aged very gracefully and your still a child compared to me.

Posted by: Joshua Hey Jessica, guess who I seen on my way up to the library? I seen Carrie Cline out in back of the WSAZ building on 5th and 7th. Is she older than you or are you older? By what I read I guess you are from the class of '93; I graduated in '92. I don't have a thing left from high school except three pictures of me in my football uniform. I've lost everything, my yearbooks, my friends senior pictures that we all passed out to each other, my football letter and awards, and even the newspaper articles about our football games. I lost all that stuff after my Mom had her second divorce. Ohh well life goes on. So I guess you were doing your spring cleaning when you found all this stuff. I bet it brought back alot of old memories. Well gotta go, bye.

Posted by: Charity I can't believe you've been out of high school for 15 years. I always thought you were like 23, maybe 25. You look great so don't worry about the small stuff. We all have to grow old at some point!

Posted by: shelby You've got to be joking me, I'm 26 and I pray that when I reach your age I look half that good. We have 5 kids between my husband and myself, ages 7yrs-8m. So there's really no hope for no wrinkles, I've already got them, and a few gray hairs. You look wonderful, and don't worry about the small stuff, everyone ages, just some better than others. As long as you feel good about yourself then what else matters?

Posted by: CHIP I was told by the dearest friend I have ever known that the key to staying young and positive is "Keep your chin up and a smile on your face and no one can get you down". I know you wont have any problem with this since you have such a happy and youthful smile.

Posted by: judie you start growing old when yu are born. It is not until the wrikles and grey come that you start to worry. Trick is to CARE earlier in life. you can age with dignity and beauty.

Posted by: Brandon Jessica you really don't look that old. I reall thought you that you were probably 25 or 26 years old. Your still young and beautiful so don't worry about your age. Jessica I would also like to bring up that in one of your blog entries you mentioned that you are a competitive person. I would like to challenge you to something rather it be a basketball match, bowling, tennis, or anything. I’d like to do something to get my school some attention and I think if you would accept my challenge it would do that. Just so you know I’m 18 years old and only 5’5 and weigh about 145 pounds so you have great chances of beating me. Thanks for taking the time to read this and if you have time please respond.I know this is a strange idea, but Sherman High gets no attention and I think out side of the box so this is just one of my ideas. Thanks.

Posted by: Julie Jessica, it is so ironic that I read this blog today...I was looking at the pictures of us from Orlando last week and I didn't think that was ME! Wrinkles? Where did those come from? So I promptly went to CVS and bought new face wash and toner and eye cream. When did I become so vain? You are absolutely right, youth is wasted on the young. When I read that comment of yours, I flashed back to the picture of us when we were 19 in Virginia Beach getting ready for that "bikini contest." We thought we were fat then??? What? The only fat on us was in our huge hair! What's important is this: we might be older with a few wrinkles here and there, but we are definitely WISER now.

Posted by: Donald I will turn 67 in July. You look great. Let yourself up and quit kicking yourself. You have your whole life in front of you. As for the pictures. My wife has a box with about 35 to 40 years of pictures in it. She keeps saying I will get to it some day.

Posted by: William EVERY TIME I SEE YOU I THINK OF HOW YOU ARE LIKE FINE WINE....YOU JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER WITH AGE......I DO REMEMBER YOU FROM A FEW YEARS AGO AND I PROMISE YOU JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER LOOKING EVERY SINGLE DAY OF YOUR LIFE. I PROMISE. HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Posted by: "Say it aint so" OHH MY LOrd!! I know how you feel, here I am 41!, yes 41. I moved to WV about 6 years ago but when I go home and see my friends I think my lord I am the only one aging here. I have been out of school for 23 years and it is hard to believe that I could possibly be that old. I used to think 30 was "grave worthy" now I look at my 16 year old son and think where did time go. I was that age yesterday. Well I guess with age comes wisdom and I am waiting on mine, sure hope it comes soon, but while I am waiting I can do without the crows feet, wrinkles, and the little black hairs that seem to grow out of nowhere. I enjoy reading your blogs and watching you on the news, GREAT job keep it up, and ohh to be your age again!!!

Posted by: Debbie Hey Jess there is good news though. In a few years when things really start to go, so will your near vision and you won't be able to see it! So hang in there.

Posted by: John I agree with your comment that one day we all seem to wake up and realize just how much we have aged. I also feel that a woman’s beauty enhances as they get older. They may be getting a little older, a lot wiser but the little lines and wrinkles we all get as we age just make us unique. We learn to love them for who they are. Besides these are the little characteristics we remember the most.

Posted by: Jayme Well if it makes you feel any better, my husband and I have always thought you looked like you were about our age...we are 28 and 29. So that gives you a few years back! :) You are beautiful--now stop listening to that voice in your head that says otherwise!!!