Nothing much new to report here. I've been feeling pretty blah as of late. Summer blues, maybe. I've decided that being in your late 20s really sucks. It's a very in-between place to be. Young enough to still have some interest in staying after work for a pint with the girls to vent and giggle, old enough to run into my ex-husband at the grocery store. Young enough to still wear long hair, old enough to feel silly pulling it back into a ponytail. Young-looking enough to be called "sweetie" by women in my own age group, old enough to feel condescended and want to punch them in the face. Young and blessed enough to have a figure that allows me to still shop in the juniors department, old enough to feel reeeeally old when actually walking through said department. Last night, a co-worker friend of mine and I were talking about the price of gasoline and cigarettes, and how expenses in general have inflated so much over the years, but wages haven't. Not that cigarettes are a necessary expense, and I realize much of the price hike is in taxes, but we just used it as an example.
"When I was 16, cigarettes were less than two dollars a pack. That was fifteen years ago."
Sharp intake of breath. Fifteen years ago? It only took about half a second more to realize that she and I are roughly the same age and it's been that long for both of us.
I don't like staying up past my bedtime too much anymore - once in a while is good, but for the most part, I value my beauty sleep over pints with the girls. My family means more to me than anything else, and any ambitions I had as a young 20something in writing and/or music have been dulled by the more pressing need for balance. I'd rather garden than hang out at the coffee shop; rather read than drink; rather stay home than sit in a smoky room full of lost souls. And for Christ's sake, turn that music down!
I'm just kind of worried for my partner. I'm really not as much fun as I used to be, and I'm aware of it. I'm proud of myself for how far I've come, and I know he's happier for it overall, too. I just need to find new ways to have fun before I become some fuddy-duddy stick in the mud.
Posted by stephanie at July 21, 2006 09:45 AMSometimes I wonder about the same thing, but Steph, you are such a Kaliedoscopic Wonder I really doubt you will really ever have to worry about becoming boring.
Posted by: Daniel Talsky at July 21, 2006 03:21 PM"Fuddy-duddy" are words that will never apply to you no matter how hard you try and you are fun to be with simply by being yourself. I, too, am proud of how far you've come. Keep the balance!
Much love always,
Mom