47 AGE - my American friend

M : this episode is about AGE ! M : Hi everybody, we know it’s been a while since we uploaded our last episode, but we’re back now. C : Well, listeners, it was all Marta’s fault, she spent a whole month in the States, lucky girl- so she’s the one to blame. Just kidding, hey Marta, welcome back! How was your trip to Nashville, Tennessee and Austin, Texas? M : Amazing! I think I’ve seen more concerts in that month alone than in the rest of my life. C : And you also played a couple of times, didn’t you? M : Yeah, when I played one of my songs in Nashville, the home of songwriting…well, I was on cloud nine! I was as happy as a child! C : “As happy as a child”, right, and that takes us back to our episode about AGE. Let’s start with CHILDHOOD, the first period of life. M : Ok, what’s the difference between a NEWBORN, an INFANT and a TODDLER ? C : A newborn child is a baby boy or baby girl who is just a few weeks old, they are newly born. A newborn. And when they are a few months old, instead they are usually referred to as infants. Toddlers are babies who are learning to walk & talk, they’re between the ages of one and three years old, more or less. M : ok, any other words about kids? C : A child under school age is called a PRESCHOOLER. M : oh, I wish I had more memories of those carefree years before SCHOOL AGE! Those sweet days spent in the open air, trying to feed as much wildlife as possible… C : were you already fond of animals back then? M : Oh, yeah, my childhood was all about cats, dogs, birds, lizards, frogs, hedgehogs, even mice, any little creature was lovely to my eyes and worth feeding. C : Well, you’re excused: you were a preschooler and you couldn’t read the signs saying “do not feed the wildlife”. M : You’re right! C : Let’s move on to that period of time after childhood and before ADULTHOOD: ADOLESCENCE and YOUTH. When you attend high school or college you are an ADOLESCENT, a YOUNGSTER. In particular, if your age ranges between 13 to 19 (that is: you’re in your teens) you’re a TEENAGER. M : What’s next? C : Then you are an adult, in your twenties, in your thirties… For example, Marta, you are in your thirties, right? M : yes. C : are you in your EARLY 30s, in your MID 30s or in your LATE 30s ? M : I am not going to reveal that, not even under torture. C : ok! Fair enough… Anyway: to be in one’s early 30s means to be 31, 32,33, to be in one’s mid 30s means 34, 35,36, to be in one’s late 30s means 37 38 39. M : Ok, for the record: I’m not old, just older, like Bon Jovi would say. C : Marta I had no clue you were afraid of GETTING OLD, of AGEING. M : No, really, I was just kidding, GROWING OLD implies being wiser and I like that. Plus “youth is a state of mind”, ain’t that what they say? C : Yeah, youth is a state of mind, that’s what I keep telling my back. It’s too early to give up now! ☺ M : That’s the same for me! ☺)) ok, let’s go on. C : People from 40 to 60 are usually referred to as MIDDLE-AGED PEOPLE. While people over 60/65 are called: SENIORS or ELDERLY. For example: Bono Vox from U2 is a middle-aged person, he’s in his early 50s I think. Clint Eastwood is an elderly person, he’s in his 80s. M : ok…for example…Sting is ….oh my, it’s hard to believe it, but he’s in his 60s now...should I call that super handsome man a senior?? C : Yeah, I know, some people do not LOOK THEIR AGE, they look younger. M : Sting doesn’t look his age, absolutely not. He’s like….ageless. Hey, speaking of age, I have to call Ashley! It’s her birthday! She has finally turned 18 ! C : Turning 18 is an important step in a teenager’s life. That’s when you COME OF AGE. M : to come of age? C : that means to reach the age at which you have your adult’s rights. M : oh, I see. Ok, wait a second, it’s getting late & I really have to call her. (dialing). ASHLEY: Hello? Hello? (loud music in the background) M : Hi Ashley! It’