I tried not to take offense. Hell, I needed the money so I could swallow my damn pride. But when an editor of a glossy women's magazine asked me to write a story about Invisible Women Syndrome - that strange phenomenon where you kind of fade away once you get in your mid-late 40s, being ignored by waiters, sales assistants and builders alike - I couldn't help feeling a little irked.
Had I really got to THAT stage in life? Do people really look through me, not seeing me anymore because I'm aging? My friend Amanda says it happens to her, regularly. She's older than me and even more beautiful, so I was surprised by this but grateful for her honesty which I use in my piece.
I did come up with examples of my own, but it's early days for me. I know it will be more obvious (and I less so) as I age. But I also know it doesn't matter. In the story I write about the liberation of middle-age, of not being on constant show, of laughing at the young chicks in stilettos at muddy music festivals while I trudge happily through in biker boots.
There's lots to love and loathe about getting older. But there's one thing I really look forward to—not having to brace myself every time I walk past a building site.
I'd love to hear YOUR experiences of this - get in touch! Comment below or email me: christina.larmer@gmail.com
xo
