You know you're old when...

For most of my life my dad has lived in a very remote part of Utah. When I was a kid and he'd come down from his mountain to see me, he and my stepmom had a lot of things they needed to get done while the were in the big city. Things like buy groceries. One of the regular stops they made was at RC Willey. I HATED going to RC Willey. It took so long! It was just standing around, listening to grown-ups talk about boring stuff (side note: When I was very small I used to think that when grown-ups talked to each other they were speaking a different language because I never understood any of it.). Well today, life has come full circle. Today I wandered into RC Willey of my own free will and choice. Because I wanted to. This is how I know I'm old.

Then tonight in a totally unconnected incident my friend Molly told me that she knew she was old when all the players on her favorite sports teams started becoming younger than her.

This got me thinking and I've thought of a whole bunch of those instances. The following is a list of moments when I knew I was old:

• When I realized I was older than all the heroines in any coming of age novel I read.
• When, as a teenager, pushing my youngest sister around in a shopping cart, I got asked how old my baby was.
• Being the oldest of seven and having three siblings over twenty
• Getting my health insurance card in the mail with only my name on it.
• I realized that Lagoon sucks. And Halloween.
  
• Listening to NPR everyday and liking it.
  
• Being mistaken for a PARENT of a student instead of student (why do they never think I'm a teacher?!)
  
• My two youngest sister's not knowing who Timon and Pumba are
• Having to buy toilet paper for the first time
• Being able to remember a time before you had to take your shoes off to go through airport security
• When, at 14 years old, I got hit on by a Chili's waiter. In front of my mom.
  

When did you know you were old?

For Your Enjoyment

From a student during an in class free write:

I like meats from the pig the best like ham, bacon, pork chops and sausage. I even go and make a little wedding for them (they honeymoon in my stomach). I also love ribs. I can eat a full rack of them.

I like people who know what they like.

I have a really good group of seventh graders. They are surprisingly polite and sweet. They are enthusiastic and still childlike unlike eighth and ninth graders who are moody and over it. Also Utah Studies while not a totally thrilling course to teach is perfect for me because I've got the content down pat, which makes things much easier.

Risking my Biscuit

I moved this weekend. I've lived in the condo in Holladay for two years which is the longest I've lived anywhere since I graduated from high school. Which is kind of significant. During my time there I had six roommates. All but one of them has gotten married or engaged during those two years. I had no complaints about where I was living but its tough and kind of annoying to keep four bedrooms filled when there's no lease and people are getting married every 4-6 months.

So Jill and I (the remaining unmarried roommate if you are keeping score) decided to move to a smaller two bedroom apartment. We've both acknowledged that we're on a slippery slope.

Let me back up. Earlier this spring (about the same time Jill and I were first considering downsizing and relocating) I was chatting with a married friend at work who is the same age as myself. She was telling me how a fellow co-worker struck her as odd because she was in her late 20's, single, rarely went on dates, had one female roommate who she had lived with for quite some time and the pair of them were looking for a new place to live but were having a hard time finding a place that would accommodate their adopted cat and dog. She's telling me this with a raised eyebrow and a tone that suggests something is not quite congruent with this "lifestyle" and the tell-tale signs of devout Mormonism she had seen on this woman.

I became increasingly horrified as I realized that she was describing my life in three or four years if nothing changes. Jill had even suggested to me that if we found a place that would allow pets that we should get a dog. I thought it sounded like a good idea.

Cut to Scene 2: Jill had been invited to a work barbeque and her boss, aware of her relationship status, encouraged her to bring someone. As is the usual with Jill (and myself) she had no male friends she felt comfortable asking. She does home health and so she never really sees any of the people she works with thus doesn't really know any of them. Although she knows all of them are married. Feeling like she might be uncomfortable at the party she called her boss and asked if she could bring her roommate (me). Her boss's reply: "Well, sure, if you want to risk it." Risk what? inquired Jill. "You know, people thinking...." his voice trailed off.

Really folks? Really? Is this what my life is going to be like? People talking about me with raised eyebrows and hinting suggestions? I'm a single, LDS woman. Too old to live with my family, and I'd rather not live alone so what options do I have? This doesn't seem fair.

Good thing Jill and I have a good sense of humor about it. Our ward went mini-golfing for home evening and not having cash, Jill asked if I would spot her for her ticket. I replied "Sure, if you want to risk it". I asked her if she wanted to run to Wal-Mart to pick up some stuff for our new place and she said, "Sure, if you want to risk it".

Apparently we're risking a lot these days.