Age

So it is interesting to me how there are some things that can make age so irrelevant, and yet others where it can destroy something.  Obviously, when dating age can be a big factor, when parenting it can be as well, when getting married or even when you are in school.  Yet some sports surpass the age challenge - you could be a 30-something-yr old who has played basketball all your life, not professionally mind you, just in high-school, maybe in college, and then whatever leagues you joined since then.  And yet you could get SCHOOLED by some 19-yr-old who has gotten a full ride to some college and might enjoy a stint in the pros.  And then there is motor-cross where an acquaintance of mine's son who was 7 could pull his bike over him in a backwards spin-thingy (sorry, not technical names here), I am not sure I could keep the bike on it's two wheels for any long period of time.  Even some well ridden 40-yr-old men couldn't do it.  Then there are the sports where age can start to work against you.  The best female gymnasts in the world peak well before they are 25, probably much close to 19 or 20.  Most professional sports you are considered old once you hit your 40's and especially your 50's.  The two main exceptions I can think of:  golf and horseback riding.  Now I really don't know anything about golf except Tiger Woods is great at it, and it is NO fun to watch on TV.  

But horseback riding, well horseback riding to me is a phenomenon of sports.  Men and women compete at the same level, not true for most sports, almost all sports in fact.  Second at the top levels you have some 22 year olds competing and some 52 year olds.  Even on the local competitive level you can have a 13 competing with a 53 yr old, and there is no guarantee bc of age who will win.  Obviously, the 53 yr old probably has much more experience, but what if her horse is newer at it?  what if the 13 yr old has an amazing horse, or just amazing talent and the 53 yr old is average.  it's a sport where the brain really makes a major play, and also this 'other' part of the team ... your horse.  so it really could be more about the 'age' of the team, the 13 year old could be riding the same horse for 3 years, and it might be the 53 yr old's first time showing her new horse.  it a sport of will power, yours and your horses, of confidence (yours and your horses) and game the sweeps the ages.  (both ages of mankind and the age of each individual).

Age is a funny thing, would you want your doctor to be too young?  would you want your professor to be too young?  would you want your surgeon to be too old?  At what age are things considered proper?  Do you remember girls how badly you wanted to shave your legs growing up?  and now wish you could just get laser hair removal so you never had to do it again.  Remember when we all wanted to learn to drive so badly, and now wish someone else could just drive us around.  When do you let your gray hair come through and stop dying it?  when do you stop shopping in the teenage section and go for the adult clothes?   

I read in an article about a woman who endorsed her age, whatever it may be.  She thought her wrinkles were reminders to all that she new of everything she withstood.  She thought her grey hair was a sign of the life she'd lived, and the experiences she'd endured.  I hope that I too am that kind of woman, and besides the fact i might just get bored with gray hair (like I do with my own now) i hope to grasp at life, no matter my age, and hold on tight to the ride.