Welcome to My Old Lady Era: How My Tastes Changed with Time

 

I used to despise English pea salad. Those tiny green peas, that creamy dressing—it was a firm “no” from me as a kid. Same with pear salad. You know the one: a canned pear half on a leaf of lettuce, with a dollop of mayo, shredded cheddar, and a maraschino cherry on top. I couldn’t stand it. I'd push it to the side of the plate like it might bite me first.

Now? I eat it with a smile. I even look forward to it.

Somewhere along the way—maybe right around the time I turned 47—I realized my tastes had done a quiet little shift. That pea salad? It's crunchy, sweet, savory, and completely satisfying. Pear salad? There's something bright and oddly refreshing about it now. I used to think it was weird; now I think it’s charming.

And it's not just food. My music tastes have done a full 180. I used to change the station the second I heard George Jones or Merle Haggard. Classic country felt slow and dusty. Not anymore. These days, I’ll play it loud with the windows open. Something about that old-school twang feels honest now. Grounded. Like sunshine on a worn-out front porch swing.

I’m in my Old Lady Era, and I’m surprisingly okay with it.

It’s not that I’ve given up on new things—it’s that I’ve grown into old ones. What once felt outdated or bland now has richness. Depth. A little mystery. My younger self was all about bright flavors, loud beats, and bold opinions. But now I’m seeing the magic in the middle ground. The soft stuff. The unexpected favorites.

Honestly, it’s fun.

There’s joy in rediscovering things you thought you didn’t like. It’s like making peace with your past taste buds and saying, “Hey, maybe we were just a little impatient.”

So yes—give me the English pea salad. Pass the pear. Crank up that George Jones. I’m living in full color at high noon, and everything tastes a little better here.

~Billie-Jo