when I grow up again

(background note - most of this post was published back in 2010. I updated it. It's an interesting topic.  One that can start an argument. We don't need more arguments in America but we should have more meaningful discussions. Here's a link to the first post I did on this topic - when I grow up. It is worth browsing back just for reading the comments generated from that post.)

Just because you are over the hill and rolling doesn’t mean you shouldn’t set some goals. As you roll, you might try leaning to one side or another to miss some of those boulders ahead. Also, take some time to enjoy the scenery.

My goal (one of few and not the most important one) -- When I grow up, I would like to be an absent-minded professor. Now I never received an advanced degree so the professor part might be tricky. With my interest in physics maybe I could fake it.

So I have my image of your typical absent-minded professor.

This one appears to be a bit more evil than absent-minded.

I love my gray hair and look forward to the day it’s completely white. I have a good start on a frazzled white hair look that is common with the absent-minded professor look.

Is there a double standard regarding aging? 

Maybe. But maybe it’s self imposed. I just left the shower (don’t worry I have dried off and dressed so wipe out any stupid image in your mind) and back there in the shower was a pump bottle of “age defying daily renewal cleanser”. I don’t touch the stuff. It belongs to my wife. Nothing wrong with cleansing but age defying would be an impossible trick. Should there be a recommended age limit on the label?  (after a certain age you need to buy the death defying strength) 

Consider these famous white-haired old men: 

• Colonel Sanders 
• Charles Darwin 
• Mark Twain 
• Santa Claus 
• Albert Einstein

photoshop finds Einstein

I’m not saying any these well respected gentlemen were absent-minded. I don’t know. My point is when I think of them, I don’t picture some young guy but see an old gentleman.

Isn’t it interesting that their grand achievements came when they were young men (not sure about Santa)? These old guys became well respected and they didn't appear to overly concerned about their appearance.

The look of age doesn’t concern me and in fact it might improve my looks. Hell maybe I could get Sheryl Crow's attention.

Back on my first post regarding this aging double standard, Unknown Mami left a very good comment.  Here's part of it:

"...The media does not portray older women as an ideal to strive for. For the most part they are left out of the picture or relegated to being grandmothers. The media is still largely controlled by men, therefore those images are still mostly being put out by men and their outlooks. When women of all ages have more access and power to represent themselves I am willing to bet that you will see older women being represented in a more positive and attractive light. 

There is also much money to be made by making women strive for eternal youth. Some companies build their fortunes on it. Men are not as susceptible to it yet, but slowly that market is growing...."

I do believe our culture is too celebrity obsessed and that produces numerous problems.  One of which is the false belief that looking young is always worth your money.