This is about growing old

I recently had this pleasant surprise in the form of an email that ive received from a very, very old friend. Her name is Nathalie and she's from Brussels, Belgium. I'd like to share an excerpt of my reply to her. The topic of conversation was about growing old.

"Well, i have answered my calling. Ive always said that id never want to ever grow up. But then i've realised that Peter Pan dont really exist and Michael Jackson's dead. So thats when the inevitable sets in. Thats when i told myself that the only way that ill ever grow old is to do it in style. I would like to grow old beautifully. You know how some old folks are just so gross (forgive me for being so brusque). But really they are. And there are those selected few who are just so sweet. They exude this natural charm that you can never be able to resist. Im not referring to physical attributes here. Im talking about character, personality, knowledge etc. Not trying to be bias, but i'd certainly like to grow old just like my late grandmother. She was such a charming person breeming with softness and love. But its easier said than done thats for sure. But then, it is a dream nonetheless and this dream dont seem too far-fetched. And it is certainly better than being in denial. I know quite a number of people who are like that unfortunately and like i said, it is kinda gross. To me, to be in denial of oneself is just as good as having no soul, pathetic and weak. These kind of people will never go very far.

So back to the topic, i certainly have yielded, succumbed, gave in. Weekends are not specifically meant for beer binging anymore (i do that everyday these days - kidding). The weekend crowd in Orchard Rd looks disgusting. The weekend crowd in everywhere else in Singapore looks disgusting. My younger cousins have already hit puberty/going for their National Service/gotten married/have their own kids. My baby brother bought his own TV. My ex-teachers have started looking really, really old. And lastly, the biggest spat to my face would be the fact that some of my friends have already started to die on me. That reality screamed in my ears with so much force, beckoning me to accept the truth that i am human afterall. So like i said, thats when the inevitability sets in and the sooner i embrace this notion, the easier it is for me to be able to move on. I think."