brief snapshots in time. memories and thoughts. disorganized and random.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

being ageless

do I look young? do I just act too young? or am I simply refusing to accept that I am not twenty-something anymore?

my mom came to a girly mom and daughter event with me last night. we were parking as my friends A & M walked by with their moms. my mom exclaims that their moms look young.

I guess they may be a bit younger than she is. I'm one of her youngest children, and both A & M are 7 years younger than me. that would likely make their moms a bit younger than mine. but I never would have thought of that.

many of my other girl friends are a few years younger than I am. of course many are a couple years older as well. maybe both of those are due to the agelessness of my thinking. I really don't think in terms of age.

I've been occasionally seeing a guy that is 8 years younger than me, for around 4 months now. I ran into an old flirtation yesterday, he's also mid-twenty-something. got an e-mail from another that's late-mid-twenty-something.

I wonder if the younger guys and my younger friends think it's odd that a thirty-something wants to hang out with them. I sometimes wonder why they want to hang out with me. then I realize that's just silly, of course it's because I'm fabulous. (and quite obviously modest.)

then there's those few people that think I'm not qualified to be in the position I am in professionally because of how old I look (hopefully not act). sure I enjoy people always thinking my younger sister is older than me, and I like to have fun, but I act responsibly and very professionally when necessary. perhaps my recent promotion shows that at least my bosses believe that.

but I still wonder. maybe I am acting too young, hanging out with too young of friends and guys. I've always been terrible at figuring out people's ages, always had friends spanning a decade or two in age, always enjoyed many things thought to be too old or too young for my current age. I usually haven't worried about it.

why, then, does one comment plant the seed that makes me question if people can have relationships that are ageless? even if they can, should they? and most importantly, should I?

18 comments:

Jen said...

Don't question it, just do what makes you happy.

Callie said...

I like to think that by surrounding ourselves with different age groups, we keep a balance... I like to know what I have to look forward to as I age, and also to be reminded of the progress that I've already made. Sometimes give a little wisdom, sometimes take a little...

Jeremy said...

I go to bbq's all the time and without a doubt, when the water fight starts, or when it is time to play dodgeball on the tramp, I am the only "adult" out there with all the kids - to me, I do what I enjoy - just like Nasa said.

When you find that "special someone" (I know - so cliche, but hey, work with me ok?) age will be the last thing on your mind.

Anonymous said...

Regarding 24, if you're having fun, run with it! It's not like you're worried about his parents driving you to the prom, he's a grown up.

Friends should always come in a variety of ages, shapes, sizes and sexes. Then you ALWAYS have a touchstone.

Put everything to the "80 & Dying" test. When you're 80 and dying, will you want to regret something you DID do, or something you didn't?

Aarwenn said...

RG, don't worry about it! You know you're cool. One of my very close friends is 34 herself--she may be 35 now--and for awhile she was dating a guy who was my age, 24, and hanging out with him and me and my friend, all 24, on a regular basis. She and I still hang out. She has friends her own age...but every once and awhile she calls me and says, "Arwenn, these old biddies are driving me crazy! I want to go out and DANCE!" And we go out. Different friends are important.

Susan said...

Age is just a number - who cares about it anyway! The most important thing is for you to be happy! I love having many different friends of all ages, that's what makes life interesting...

Yoda said...

Yep, I'm with everybody else...age is just a number. The things that matter (and not necessarily in this order) are: friendship, shared world view, trust, respect, and friendship. (It's not a complete list, and yes, "friendship" is on there twice.)

Go for it, RG.

~Kurt

Anonymous said...

RG...

I agree with the posts above. ITs about time we make age a number. I know many people over 40 that still act like they are 20 (sad for them). Letting numerical age keep you from a great relationship is like letting race keep you from a great relationship.

You should do what works for you. When you find a meeting of the minds...who really cares about the birth certificate.

Go find your soulmate unfettered by a number!!!! :-)

The Lurker

Jerk Of All Trades 2.0 said...

You are as old as you feel. People who go around worrying about it and pointing it out get "Old" REAL quick!

Sad, boring, "Acting my age" people. They suck and are no fun.

Just be YOU RG, you rock!!

Valerie said...

My youngest friend is 20 and my oldest friend is 47. These are actual "friends", people I hang out with and talk on the phone with. Not just associates. I'm 29. I dated a 21 year old last year when I was 28. (that didn't fair too well) but whatever. Who cares. I love all my friends the same. 20-47.

Rainypete said...

I've got friends that span a difference of almost 20 years. That's the beauty of friendship. It is oblivious to age, race and gender. True friendship is to be valued and who cares what the numbers are?

You'll never feel young if you hang out at the nursing home all day so get out there and play till the streetlights come on.

Shananigans said...

The older I get the more I'm realizing that age is just a number. Once you're out of college and reach that "adult" stage, you start to consider age as a not-so-important thing in relationships. There are many other things which are much more important. Interests, activities, etc.

The Blogger Formally Known As Van! said...

So yummy you are...anyway...Thank you for the comments. I posted one last story for the road. I was going to post it tomorrow.... I figure it's a good one for my very last. It's a fuuny one.

Tanya Kristine said...

true that. there are no rules. do what you want and love what you do. if someone has a problem with it, then it's just that: their problem.

tehre are too many other things on our plates to worry about if we're young or old enough for seomthing. break the mold! go against the norm! it's funner!

Robb said...

Age is an attitude. Oh, and you do look young in a good way.

Anonymous said...

Like they said, do who you want and love who you do. :)
Seriously, age is just a number. Unless they think the Simpsons was the first cartoon ever known to man, they're probably past the age of consent.

Venessa said...

I'm have friends of varying ages...Cara is 41 and Tiffany is 23. They are wondeful people and that's all that matters to me. Sounds like you have a good thing going, keep it up. :)

Mayo said...

This may sound a tad foward....but I have a feeling my brother would be great for you. He is a gypsy but is looking for that girl to keep him in one place. Spends alot of time in Kansas City Kansas, Zion Utah, and New Symerna Beach FL. He loves the sea and is currently working on a sail boat. He also lives in his VW camper van which do not take the wrong way...its totaly perfect for him. He's 31....I think or 32, ten years older than me....me 21....Sam 31...so hes cool though. He keeps hittin up all these flakey girls that just think he's cool because he likes to travel and live in his van. So I will babble no longer and try to put a picture of him on my blog....sorry for the strange matchmaking comment. It just came to me.....go with it.....