Aging. Some of us fight it. Some of us just let it happen.

I'm not doing either of these things.

I've decided that I'm going to live my days in preparation for fabulous old ladyhood. I'm absolutely serious about this. I'm going to rock that party, assuming I'm lucky enough to make it that far.

There are no guarantees but trust me, I'm planning for it.

Why waste precious time fighting time? Why try to recapture youth? Youth was great, but it can't come back. And there is nothing sadder than a person trying to look younger than they are.  (I'm talking to you, all of the real housewives of wherever).

When I grow up, I'm going to be an old woman, and it's going to be fierce.

[caption id="attachment_1488" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Carmen Dell&#39;Orefice (turned 80 this month!)"]<a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cd62_org21-e1308072587156.jpeg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1488" title="cd62_org21" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cd62_org21-e1308072587156.jpeg" alt="" width="450" height="594" /></a>[/caption]

Instead of letting myself go and someday facing a stranger in the mirror, I take care of myself. I do it gently -- beauty treatments and rituals can and should be pleasurable.

I don't do it because I want to stay young. I do it because I want to look my best. Who says your best is in the past? (OK, lots of people think that. Don't believe them.)

I look in the mirror daily and care for the person I'm still growing into.

[caption id="attachment_1485" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Twyla Tharp Gap ad (she&#39;s approaching seventy in this picture)"]<a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/twyla_tharp_gap_ad_fall_2007_annie_liebovitz1.jpeg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1485 " title="twyla_tharp_gap_ad_fall_2007_annie_liebovitz1" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/twyla_tharp_gap_ad_fall_2007_annie_liebovitz1.jpeg" alt="" width="250" height="349" /></a>[/caption]

Instead of giving up and spending my days on the couch, I'm exercising so my body grows leaner and stronger.

[caption id="attachment_1491" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="NYTIMES"]<a href="http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/garb-fest-2/#"><img class="size-full wp-image-1491" title="08talk-yaeger-tmagArticle" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/08talk-yaeger-tmagArticle-e1308073734375.jpeg" alt="" width="450" height="349" /></a>[/caption]
<p style="text-align: left;">Instead of fearing a lonely old age, I'm nurturing my friendships. Bonus side effect: Life today is more fun thanks to my friends. I look forward to even more fun in the future.</p>
Instead of trying to do it all at once, I am doing what I want first, confident that there will be time for most of of it. And if something doesn't happen and it's too late, well, too bad. I hope to have enough amazing things accomplished so that I can look back with joy.

I'm grateful for my family: My husband, my parents, my kids. They're the link to my past and my future.

That future, is of course, to be an old woman. A very fabulous one, if all goes as planned.