I’m turning 26 in about 2 weeks now, and it’s strange to consider myself an actual adult. No longer am I in the “early to mid 20’s” group, I’m now “mid to late 20’s”. I don’t have much of an opinion on the number itself, I didn’t start really blossoming (aw) until I was about 20, and things have only gone uphill from there. I’m sure I’ll peak at some point, and then things will sag and crash and burn. But since it hasn’t happened yet I greet every birthday with the excitement of another year in which I didn’t fuck everything up. Or die. Hooray!
The concept of being an adult is still strange. What does that mean? Is there some kind of manual I’m going to get from the census bureau? Will I need to put away my Easy-Bake oven and bubble machine and action figures (all purchased at or after age 20)? Where does the AARP come in? I have an apartment and a real job, a grown-up relationship and grown-up friends, but I don’t get that “Grown Up” feeling from it. I guess I expected it to be like a switch being flipped. All of a sudden I’m done with those more childish things and am all about my 401k and getting mammograms or something. Fiber and osteoporosis. The future is grim and seems full of invasive doctor visits and commercials where Sally Field calls me weak or where bladder control issues make your kids fucking hate your old ass.
I still play video games (too much some would say), collect toys, and consider enjoying myself to be a high priority. I have a science meter on my door and get my boyfriend to smuggle sparklers into MA from ME for me and my equally awesome friends. I was able to name my Xbox “Time for Explosions!!!” and have ongoing arguments about whether a bear could beat a gorilla in a fight. (Gorillas have thumbs, but bears are BEARS!) I’m slowly building towards all that grown up stuff like a family and a house and career and junk, but I don’t see any reason to rush when there’s so much fun stuff to do.
Redefining adulthood based on what we want it to be and not what we think it should be is a little scary. I want the house with the yard, but I want a ball pit for 1 room and a slide attached to the stairs. I want a tree fort. I want kids, mostly to teach them how to be awesome and share (read: steal) their toys (OMG LEGOS!). I want a career, most likely in publishing, but I like the easy job I have now that allows me to leave work at work and really enjoy my leisure time.
So with that in mind, I’ve decided what to do to celebrate this momentous occasion indicating the end of the first quarter of my life. Water fight. Balloons, buckets, water guns, hoses. Whatever we can get our hands on to use to soak each other and most of my neighborhood. And a keg. Because we’re adults now.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I think it would depend on the bear. A gorilla would beat something smaller, like a brown bear. If it was a polar bear it would depend on the location, the polar bear would definitely win in its own habitat, the gorilla couldn't handle the ice, any other place I'd bet on the gorilla. But if it was a grizzly the bear would win, no question.
Post a Comment