Someone said (Dave Barry?) that dogs come into a room as if they never saw it before. I feel that way sometimes. But the gift I gave myself when I turned 50 was that I stopped lying. Stopped lying about my age. Stopped lying about my weight. Stopped lying about my romantic potential (which is zero). Stopped doing things that made me feel like I was being false to myself. It was a great gift. It makes me uncomfortable to be around. I know that. But I also know I have to face the truth in order to deal with whatever is left of my life. And, you know, the nice thing about being a crone is that you don't care so much about what other people think. I spent too much of my life trying to be what other people thought I should be....this time is mine. And, you know, it's kind of fun.