WHEN THE BODY SAGS AND THE HONESTY LAGS
Mid-Life is the story of John, who at forty becomes a father again
with his much younger second wife, which results in a slow, painful
attack by flowered baby bags and front-facing baby carriers on his
former virility and self-identity. John always believed that age is a
state of mind; however, his adult daughters, baby son, energetic wife,
stressful job, house full of cats, and flabby body--complete with
bloated stomach and sagging bosom--all lead John reluctantly to admit
that he is having a midlife crisis. The crisis drives John to yell at
his wife, pick fights with his daughters, and miss deadlines at work
that put his job on the line. He takes solace from the stress of
everyday life with a seemingly harmless infatuation with the pretty
children's performer Sherry Smalls, who sings adoringly to him directly
from his son's DVD.
Sherry, meanwhile, is equally desperate to find a distraction in life.
Her path to rock stardom has been rudely overtaken by a semi-successful
but completely loathsome gig as a children's performer. It pays the
bills, and a Saturday-morning television show is on the horizon--that
is, if she is able to fire her alcoholic on-again, off-again
boyfriend/bandmate.
As their lives snowball, John's infatuation turns into obsession and a
haphazard, fateful e-mail leads to a necessary reality check that
neither John nor Sherry may have wanted, but that both will surprisingly
welcome.
