Maybe I’m getting old, or I’m feeling my age, or it’s just me. You tell me.
Back when we were juniors in high school, age separation groups were much more exclusive than they are to me now (I’m just on the other side of mid-thirty). You wouldn’t hang with sophomores. Seniors would have nothing to do with you. You had preschoolers, elementary kids, junior high (middle school) kids, adults and really old people.
As we entered college (or the work force), the dividing line became the age of 21. You had those below it, those who were legal and then old folks. You still referred to the grade they were in when talking about youger children.
In the mid twenties, we had old people, adults, those older than us, those younger than us, older school kids, younger school kids, preschoolers.
Now I’ve just got babies, school kids, young adults, adults and senior citizens.
In my mind a 12 year old equates to a 16 year old. An 18 year old equates to a 26 year old. A 50 year old equals a 62 year old.
Why do the groups become less inclusive and reduce in number?
Then, of course, you have the completely opposite viewpoint from us “youngsters”. To me, you’re all a bunch of geezers. Anyone 18+ is considered old…oh my god…I’m almost 18! I’m getting old!!!
Oh, i don’t know… my friends’ ages vary from just-turned-18 (me) to 28. Although the 22 and 21 year olds feel old, and I feel horribly young. It’s a weird world.
Due to skipping the second grade, I’ve always been the youngest in my group. In the fall of my second year at college (I had just turned 18), I had an admirer who was 23. He backed off when he learned my age (no big loss – he wasn’t all that interesting), saying, “I’m too old for you.” Three years later, when I had just turned 21, I was dating the future Mr. Scarlett, who was then 32. Tee hee!
It’s so weird to think that I once thought 23 was impossibly old. Remember figuring out how old you would be in the year 2000? I could not picture myself at age 33, and yet here I am, basically the same person, older but wiser (and thankfully much happier). It’s all very strange. Here my young-at-heart hubby will be eligible to join AARP in 5 years, and some of my college friends are pushing 40.
