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This thread was inspired by several posts about foot pain in another thread, and specifically by Randall’s comments that he’d “attended a NYE party where a group of middle-aged men, myself included, talked about foot pain.”

I knew I’d officially entered middle age when my eyes welled up while listening to a Fleetwood Mac song.

But what about that step past middle age? What are the changes in your health, your behavior, your interests that signal that you’re about to start getting the AARP magazine?

I’ll start:

Ear hair.

Actual, palpable excitement when a new episode of Finding Your Roots or Antiques Roadshow appears on the PBS streaming channel.

This one is less amusing, but . . . forgetting something (a name, where I set something down) and starting to worry that it’s not just normal, all-of-your-life-type forgetfulness. I mean, it is that, but one day it won’t be. Will I know when it’s transitioned to that “it only gets worse from here” stage?

Rather than losing hearing, I’m getting more sensitive to loud things. Everyone in the house has the volume too high. And yells.

Colonoscopy. Shingles vax.

Ear hair, yes. I have to ask my hair person to trim it, occasionally my wife has to also.

More sensitive to loud things is me as well. My house is door-pushers. Turn a fucking knob, ya lazy fucks.

Back pain.

Losing muscle. I mentioned in another thread I think that I noticed that when I carry a full wine bag (12 bottles) I had begun to feel like more effort was needed. Two days/week at the gym is helping for sure.

Yep, everything sounds louder to me now, although my hearing still fine.

I got a hemorrhoid a few weeks ago.

I also yell at clouds.

I was one of the men at the NYE party discussing foot pain, so there’s that.

The ear hair is the worst (so far). Probably why I doubt I will ever have short hair again. I ain’t got time to deal with that.

No problems here. Feel like a machine!

Frequent napping.
Enjoying trips to Wild Birds Unlimited more than trips to Austin Vintage Guitar.
Metamucil (or its generic equivalent).
Believing that sex is overrated and a good bowel movement is underrated.
Statins and ACE inhibitors.
Silence is golden.

Younger people coming to you for advice.

Retirement. This August would be my 40th anniversary working for my employer and their successor companies if I stay that long, but I'm done June 30 because it's the end of the quarter and fuck 'em. I'm tired. And I can tell I've lost a step or two. Because I'm old...