Ageing Woes

"Hi...I am Sakshu...please add me on orkut!"

I read the message again. Okay, so this indeed was a friend request from Sakshu - my cousin brother. He is on orkut? How old is he...6? No - older I think. Which year was he born in? Ummm - 1999 I think. Well, that means he is 11 years old. Eleven? Oh God! Where did all these years fly?

Suddenly, I started feeling so old.

And this is a phenomenon I am noticing more frequently in 2010. Yeah right, with the new decade and everything. I remember having this conversation with a colleague in office yesterday. She had just come back after interviewing a few candidates and was in an extremely foul mood. What happened, did you ask? Well - apparently most of the candidates that came for an interview were 1988-89 born. So what? Those were the years of her life she could so clearly remember - she was a teenager in those years. And kids who were born at that time were here, ready to take up jobs. How would she be feeling about her age? Ouch.

Okay - so we all grow older with each passing year - what exactly is the big deal? I mean, isn't it a universal fact - and doesn't it happen to everyone? It does. And we all know that very well. But talking from my newly acquired experience...it still hurts. I know that growing old means you are more experienced, more wise (really?) etc. but just to think of the fact that the years of being young are passing by makes my heart to ache. Now I can somewhat relate to the favourite topic of the generations elder to mine - 'In our days...'

It feels so nostalgic to think about my school and college days - and it is such a pleasure sharing and reliving those memories. No wonder our parents and grandparents love to talk about how things were in 'their' days - how 1 paisa meant so much; how there were no telephones, no internet; how beautiful it was to write and receive letters, and so on. Won't we want to share the days of our childhood and youth with the next generation? I sure will!

Actually, that makes me think - I am still so young as compared to so many people. There is so much of ageing that is yet to happen. There is still so much time to do what I want to do. I can still use this time to create memories that I can cherish forever and share with my grandchildren one day!

And - that makes me feel better. Honestly, I started writing this piece in a state of shock and gloom, but am extremely happy as I end this note. Well, there is so much more to do with my life...I better make the most of time! Happy ageing, people!