I assume everyone has heard at least one of Jeff Foxworthy’s “You might be a Redneck if…” sayings. Well, on a recent visit home to Texas, I actually experienced a “Did you know you’re old when…” truth.

One day my Mom, Dad, sister, Barbara, and I were sitting in my parent’s den talking about doctors. I mean a full, in-depth conversation about our doctors. Suddenly, the topic of our conversation hit me, and I laughed out loud. (Gob-smacked, as my British friends might say.)

I thought only old people sat around talking about their doctors.

I would dare say even sickly young people don’t do that. They may argue over who had the most broken bones or surgeries, or who had the worst injuries or illnesses, but I doubt they sit around having major conversations about their doctors.

That’s for old folks. And, oh my gosh, I’d just done it!

I’d traveled further than from Tennessee to Texas. I’d officially stepped across an invisible line and was smacked in the face with the realization: I AM OLD.

Of course, age is just a number, and I quickly reminded myself getting old has good points. Like the fact that all those years of growing old has made me smart. (Okay, maybe not smart, but certainly intelligently experienced.) Another positive point is I no longer bother trying to impress others. (Not that I ever did a lot of that anyway, but now I don’t have to do any.) Even better, I can now do what I want. I can act crazy and no one will look at me twice. (Okay, so they may look at me twice, or three times, or twenty-three times, but who cares? Not me!)

Yep, while it’s a hard truth to accept, getting old isn’t so bad. Which is good, since I now know I’m no longer growing old. I’m there.