MISKAAIW

     MISKAAIW: Madonna Is Still Kickin' And Age Is Whatever

Some people may disagree, but Madonna is rocking "thirty-two" at fifty-nine. The fact that we even say she's acting a certain age seems skewed to me. Why do some of us think what she's doing is inappropriate? Because she's showing skin? Because her videos are provocative? Sexy doesn't expire does it? "Excuse me, this is the age police, we came to replace your hot card with an aarp membership and 25% off at Golden Corral". I don't think so. If you can vogue and save a buck, that's living friend.

(Granted, as far as I know, Madonna isn't even old enough to qualify for "senior" discounts, making her age-criticism all the more ridiculous).

And let's not kid ourselves, the music video for a non-family-blog-friendly song by Madonna that includes her name and was released in 2015 and rhymes with "Kitch Rhyme Fafonna" is cool as cucumber salad. And the fact that she was fifty-six when she made it? That's confidence, power, and lasting relevance. Some say she's not "acting her age" or "trying to stay twenty-two forever", but I'd say the opposite: she's freely and radically embracing her age in a way that's true to her.

I think to give her all this flack for being a boss middle-age woman is ageist, meanwhile she's reminding us to throw to the winds the silly notion that a woman's value is negatively correlated to her age. Is her act classy? Does Chanel make good running shoes? Not the point. What she does is (uniquely and with her own creative perspective) what younger artists are doing all the time; being passionate, confident, and sexy, none of which are limited to a certain age group.

It's not just racy clothes, sultry dancing, and edgy lyrics that's typically considered "too young" for everyone over a certain age. I hear way too much self-deprecation concerning age on a daily basis. "I'm too old to learn that" or "too old to change jobs" or "too old to create that, write that, run that, go there, see that, try that, wear that, dress up, dress down, stay in, go out, be cool, work there". I think that's all hullabaloo, let's go on back to the "fine wine" quote, you've heard it. Bringing yourself down on account of your age is fruitless and emotionally draining. Be older, wiser and fresher than yesterday. Don't cry over your age (or for me Argentina ;) 'cause you're not too old, this is still your playground.