Cusp

I’ve been pondering the word “cusp.” One definition I came across describes a cusp as a point formed by two intersecting arcs. Or the thin triangular flap of a heart valve. Or a slight elevation on the grinding surface of a tooth. But it’s the non-tangible definition that I’m currently obsessed with – the point formed by two intersecting arcs. The cusp between childhood and adulthood. Or, in my case, the cusp between middle adulthood and old age.

​Yep, I am on the cusp of old age. I hate the phrase “old age” because it carries a negative connotation, one that I hope is eradicated by the time my grandkids approach adulthood. I recently turned sixty and have yet to come up with a better adjective to describe my current phase of life. Senior citizen? Blech. I hate that phrase, too, with its images of little old ladies in stockings and sensible shoes. I wear sensible shoes but compete in triathlons—an activity never on the radar of many of my grandmother’s (or even my mother’s) cohorts. I’m a grandmother, but I still feel, in some ways, like the youthful mother I once was. I’m embracing my gray hair and ignoring the barrage of hair coloring product advertisements (for mature women) in my social media feeds. 
 
In my new book, Second Saturday, I struggled with describing the sweet, loony, endearing cast of older adults. My main character, Darlene (an older adult herself), frequently refers to her new friend Lola as an “old lady.” Ultimately, I allowed Darlene to reference Lola that way because it aligns with Darlene’s mindset. 
 
In addition to being on the cusp of old age, I also ride a generational cusp. I was born during the narrow river between the Boomers’ end and the Gen-Xers’ beginning, and I can relate to both generations. For example, the music I loved as a child is the same music my older generational counterparts came of age listening to. Yet, I was an infant when JFK was shot, Beatlemania swept the nation, and I was too young to remember the nuances of Vietnam. Likewise, even though I am older than some of my Gen-X counterparts, I was still shaped by many of the key events that define their generation. The fall of the Berlin Wall and growing up after the Civil Rights movement instantly come to mind. 
 
I’m excited about my cusp. So excited that I literally swam into my new decade by swimming 100 yards for each of my 60 years (and rewarded myself with an M&M at the end of each 100 yards). Mike threw me an epic surprise party, and I got to walk in a Saint Patrick’s Day parade! Not too shabby for an old lady!