Where: Eataly on Broadway
When: 11/2/22
Approximate Time: 1:30 pm
Middle age spread sat on her counter stool. She wore jeans and her blonde hair was pulled up with a clip.
My own middle age spread came to mind – how did mine compare to hers?
I had been spread thin from coast-to-coast as I had taken my leave from where I had been to join my best friend, NYC. It occurred to me in that very moment it is not only our bodies that tend to spread in middle age, but also our stuff right alongside.
We do the middle age spread. All of us.
So much time accumulating stuff. As I went through my wares before I moved and after, I thought about all the energy it took for me to accumulate that stuff and all the energy it took to go through, determine what to toss and keep, and then how to keep it. I tried to trim down that middle age spread as much as possible.
Following all of that, once I landed with Madame, she gave me courage to commit to not buying anything more for the home. She offered me so much to see and do, she told me to let it go and come her way. Which is what brought me yonder to my own counter stool.
I felt lucky as I only had my hobo-style handbag on me carrying my purse-ables and a small bag that held Advil, a hairbrush, and hand sanitizer — all picked up at one of her drugstores on the fly. Pared down!
Middle age spread had a gold wedding band on – a small diamond too. She had been wearing that band a long time. What could I say? I was wearing a two buck fidget ring. It had helped me stop picking – worth more than any old diamond to me. Twist away.
Middle age spread had a huge, oversized rainbow plastic bag filled with bedding – sheets, pillowcases and more – sitting in a shambles at her feet. Filled to the brim indeed.
If anyone or anything was getting some it was her bed. Not sure about the partner.
After lunch with her friend – she had one more than me in Madame’s city – I thought to myself, she’ll be lugging that bag to whatever outer borough/suburb she may hail from and dress that bed good.
Note to Self: You have two beds. Get rid of the bedding — and the pillows.
Just then, I turned to my left and saw a young couple sitting next to me munching on clams and a fish sandwich. The young woman also wore jeans minus the spread on her counter seat. She ordered for him – the whole thing from the beer to the appetizer to lunch (I had heard her earlier). She’s was also going to get hers…
So she too could one day be the middle age spread in jeans sitting on a counter stool buying for a bed that is still getting some.
Madame’s Lesson: It’s not only our bodies that get heavy and spread out, but our stuff. There’s always time to lighten the load!
