Wow, ok, I can’t even remember the last time I published one of these blog-like missives, but it’s definitely been more than a year. I only have one week left of my forties (seriously, WTF?!) so I was finally compelled to mark the end of an era with a few words to my few followers.
I became obsessed with writing about the so-called (by me) “Middle Ages” when 40 was still pretty fresh, the relationship I had been in since my late twenties came to an end, and I was living on my own for the first time in a decade and that living was being done in Williamsburg where I was easily a decade older than anyone out in public at night. Where were my people at?
I’m still asking that even though I no longer even live in NYC. I said goodbye to all that after 20 years, a decision I’m still not totally on board with even though my life became 10x easier after moving. I mean, I do have a pretty nice mid-century house and drive a convertible (when I leave the house) so I have no justification for complaints. I moved from Portland in 1998 because it was gray, damp, and depressing, and guess what? It still is.
A decade ago, the phrase middle age freaked me the fuck out. It sounded so dowdy and dated, I guess. But at 40, it’s conceivable you’ll live to 80 and still have half your life left. At 50? Good luck with that. Forty is still pretty damn young in the scheme of things. I’m having harder time reframing 50.
Now, millennials are becoming middle-aged, and seriously, seeing them flip out over Gen Z becoming the arbiters of cool is what’s giving me life. I have two words for you: Shrek Rave! Thank these nostalgia-loving kids for your $4,000 Brooklyn rent.
I predicted many years ago that Millennials hitting 40 would be a turning point and (peri)menopause would be rebranded as something hip and fun. The struggle is real? Hot flashes are cool AF? Hot flashes are fire? I could go on…
In the past couple years, we’ve gotten Womaness from Target, State of Menopause from Stacy London, Attn: Grace for bladder leaks (also Speax by Thinx), Kindra, Tabu, Pause, and countless others. And now I’m being bombarded by ads.
These are all products, though. Media? Not so much.
TueNight has been in this space for a while. Gloria got a fair amount of ink when it debuted (even from food sites?!) even though it hasn’t really amounted to much, which led me to believe the founder must be a Brooklyn media type, which she was. Sari Botton is killing it with her Oldster newsletter. I very rarely listen to podcasts, but I do appreciate Everything is Fine. None of these are mainstream monoliths, though.
I have been expectantly waiting for the death of girlboss media a la Refinery 29 and Man Repeller, but I’m afraid the Millennials will maintain their Boomer-like stranglehold on pop culture for many years to come i.e. continuing to make everything all about themselves even past their prime.
And welp, there it is! I wrote the above paragraph, then skimmed Twitter and clicked on a link to Emily Gould’s essay about Pamela Adlon in Harper’s Bazaar and realized it was part of a larger package called “40 Is the New 40,” which literally just launched (as in today). “Millennials are starting to hit a major milestone, and they're doing it their own way.” Tell me more about Millennials reinventing middle age, please! There’s even a piece by that Gloria person.
Supposedly, everyone went gray during the pandemic, but I can’t be bothered to link to any of that. Plus, I don’t really think it’s true. I didn’t take up one new hobby during the pandemic (I wouldn’t consider getting more into indie perfumes to be a hobby exactly) and made no attempts to better myself. In fact, I’m having a hard time adjusting to pseudo-post-pandemic life and wonder if getting stoned, ordering delivery, and watching TV all night will eventually have unwelcome repercussions? I don't see any downsides yet. Get back to me in a decade when I’m fully atrophied (mentally and physically).
See you on the other side. Maybe follow me at @maturethemes where I post much more regularly.
You'll Never Guess Who's Mastering Middle Age
Oh Krista, how I love you. ♥️ Your last para speaks volumes and it's me in a nutshell. Add bourbon and we're twinning! Also, I cannot find you on insta. Or is it Twitter?
Oh Krista, how I love you. ♥️ Your last para speaks volumes and it's me in a nutshell. Add bourbon and we're twinning!