I should have seen it coming. The moment when I first used a "Karate Kid" reference in a talk with the youth and they had no clue what I was talking about. I should have seen it coming when I got so excited about the "Transformers" movie because it would bring me back to my childhood days of watching the "good" Saturday morning cartoons. And when I realize that when the day comes that I have children, as they grow up they will have no concept of not having cell phones, the internet, or ipods, I am really starting to feel old.
Now I realize that there will always be people that I know in different life stages, I don't debate that you probably know better and in your eyes I'm still "just a kid" but hear me out...I'm sure all of us have had this moment, or will if you give it time. The beginning of my getting old feeling comes from this actual quote stated to me this weekend: "You were born in the 70's...whoa."
Actually I am quite proud to say that I was born in the 70's, am a child of the 80's, and in essence a product of the 90's. I can remember actively taking part in fads like slap bracelets, pogs, crystal pepsi, and hypercolor clothing. I will proudly admit that I watched shows like Mr. Belvedere, Doogie Howser M.D., A.L.F., and Full House. I had a metal Tonka truck, He-Man, and G.I. Joe to keep me from being bored. I will even humbly submit that I listened to such popular music as New Kids on the Block, Vanilla Ice, and yes, even Hanson.
The funny thing is that through each of these, I have always viewed myself as not arriving yet, there was always an age that I was looking forward to. I looked forward to 13 because it meant that I was a teenager, 16 because it meant that I could drive, 21 because it meant that I was an adult in the government's eyes, and 25 because it meant cheaper car insurance and the ability to rent a car. My next landmark? 30.
As I face this next July and my departure from my twenties to my thirties I have resolved to embrace getting older. I actually quite prefer it to the alternative. I've never looked good wearing girls clothing which seems to be the trend amongst skinny young men, I have never been able to grow my hair longer than a few inches before it starts bothering me, and I don't see what is so special about American Idol, even if last year's finalist was from Utah. I listen to the music that I like, drive what I want to drive and have the ability to select where I go on vacation. My favorite part of getting older? I get to laugh and be glad that I don't have to do things like high school, experience adolescence, or ask my parents for enough money for Taco Bell again. Besides...there is a glorious sophistication that comes from getting older.
As I have more and more experience at this thing called life, I'm feeling old, but maybe that isn't such a bad thing after all.
