How old are you? Seriously…not in calendar years….not from the day you were born…how old are you really…in your head? When did your mind quit getting older and just stop and let your body run on ahead? If you are stumped and have no idea what I’m talking about, I’ll give you a hint how you might figure this out. I am about to be 50. But sometime around the age of 23, just out of college, I refused to get any older. I was young, free, finally out on my own and well, I liked where I was, and saw no reason to move beyond it.
I know I am not the only one. I ask people all the time how old they are and how old they really feel. My mom is 73 but feels 40. At 55 my oldest sister still feels 24, my other sister is 52 but thinks of herself as being 35. My friends are Beth 48 but really 25, Kay 58 but 30 in her head and Kim at 45 feels 31 but won’t mind my saying she often acts ten. My friend Suzie (she knows who she is) wishes to remain anonymous. But at 45 feels 20 years younger.
Marny, on the other hand, is an old soul. When she was just 19, she felt 40. A really challenging childhood puts it in perspective. While I’m one of the oldest among my friends, I am the youngest in my head. I’m sure they would all agree, I often act the most childish.
My son’s guitar teacher is 54 but looks and feels 25. And finally, a woman waiting on us at a local restaurant the other night, was dreading her 30th birthday arriving without a husband and kids. But when I asked her how old she felt, she said 19. So see, there’s still plenty of time.
Last year, I got to go on a Caribbean cruise with my 23-year-old niece. How perfect could it be? I may have a few more laugh lines around my mouth, a few gray hairs under my highlights and cellulite that just can not be mine, but she and I are mental equals. At times on the cruise, you might have thought she was actually older.
Maybe it’s healthy living, more exercise or better access to medical care…or maybe it’s a glimpse into our eternal future. You’ve probably heard people ponder how we will recognize each other in heaven. Will we be like the angels?
I just wonder how old we will be and if my new glorified body will be 23?
“Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Philippians 3: 20-21
How old are you? Really? Seriously? You can tell me! 🙂
KeziahCarrie 
Comments on: "Just for Fun" (1)
After your high praise for my writing – I decided to share something that’s been bringing me childlike joy. A llama!
“Stand up straight – don’t lean – stand on your feet like you’re balanced and strong and know what you’re doing. Approach him slowly but confidently. Talk to him. Reach for him, but let him come to you too.”
My soon to be 13 year old son is training a yearling llama to be a Colorado trails pack animal. His instructor is patient and careful with her words. When she tells Luke to talk to the llama – I strain to hear what he’s saying – but just his tone carries – it sounds like compassion.
Our connection to animals is ancient and spriritual. In Genesis, The Creator forms ‘every beast of the earth and every fowl of the air’ to comfort a lonesome Adam. In Arab legend, the Bedouin’s believed God took a handful of South wind and formed the Arabian horse. In 4,000 B.C. Llamas played prominent roles in the religious ceremonies of the Incas.
We stumbled on llamas when we bought a small farm last summer. The former owner had alpacas – fleecy sheeplike relatives of the llama. The Camelid family was warm and welcoming and we soon found ourselves hiking with the Rocky Mountain Llama Association.
Surrounded by fall leaves and sunshine in Golden Gate Canyon, we led our llamas around the switchbacks easily. There’s something carefree and childlike about hiking unencumbered. The llamas carried everything we needed. When we stopped for lunch our llamas grazed while we snacked under the aspen trees. Luke talked about how everyone we saw on the trail was drawn to the llamas.. always smiling. That’s when the idea for his Eagle project started.
Earning Eagle rank is the pinnacle of scouting. You have to demonstrate leadership and management skills while in the service of others. ‘Imagine a llama hike with veterans’ – Luke said. ‘Imagine the llamas carrying their burdens away’.
It catches in my throat and clouds my eyes – pride and love.
You can learn a lot training llamas. And, we’re only just beginning.
Thanks for inspiring me to write about it Annette!