I distinctly recall that day also. The entire nation was stunned, but it's hard to explain what it was like for those of us from CL. We were raised with everything NASA, and as many in CL, knew several astronaut families.
I'm a teacher, and one day a couple years ago I was telling my students to print out their papers ahead of time so they wouldn't have to give me excuses for being late. I said I, too, remembered the days of ripping the paper out of the printer and running to class, but I wasn't going to be sympathetic anyway. They stared blankly. Then I realized they didn't know what I meant about ripping the paper. None of them had ever used a dot matrix printer with those perforated sheets attached to each other! They'd known nothing but laser printers all their lives. I'm about to turn 30 in a couple months, by the way. Officially approaching the Hill (as in "over the ...")
Kay, I don't feel old, but someone said something a few days ago that made me feel old. A guy I play ball with every now and then asked my age. He was shocked to hear I was 24. He thought I was in my 30s or something. WTF?!!? That and my multitude of lil gray hairs.
no no dude, im 17 and in elementary i used to rip my paper off of the printer and then fold the strips of paper that held them together with the holes into paper accordions. man, i was cool!!
Well, I am graduating from college this semester and will (hopefully) be getting a real job soon. So I started thinking to myself about what I would want to do with my big fat (yeah, right) paycheck I would soon be getting. I thought that I would like to get a new car by the end of the year. Then I started to think of what cars I wanted, and found myself thinking, "Man, it would be quite corking if I could cart myself and my forth formed chums around in one of those gee-golly nice hybrid cars so that I could do my part with the local energy concern." Okay, so it wasn't <b>exactly</b> like that, but the first thing that popped into my head was what the gas mileage of the new car I would be buying would be and not how cool, or how fast, the car would be. It made me feel old. And if all you old farts think that is chicken feed as far as feeling old, you can all kiss my ass! I am only 21, and you will all be dying soon anyway, so get off my case!!!
I get the opposite reaction. Most people think I'm "22, maybe 23?" when I ask them. I suppose that's a good thing. It keeps me from bothering to dye my gray hair, at least.
One moment was when I asked a girl to goto the Outfield concert with me. Her reply was a simple, but sharp "Who are they? " Also, this 12 year old kid called me sir the other day.
When I realized that I'd been saying, "I remember when...", that's the time I knew I was getting old. ALSO: Last year, knowing my long-term engagement probably won't last, then knowing I would have to start over in that department...and that I was 33, underemployed (my own fault), and really needed to get my butt in gear. 26 was 7 years ago. 40 will be in 7 years.
Man, I didn't realize how many people took the use of "sir" to mean the person being referred to as sir was old. I call everyone sir. Or maam. If I am on the road driving, and someone cuts me off, I have often been heard to scream, "**** <b>YOU</b>, sir!"
I'm not that old, but it's weird flipping through back issues of Amazing Spider-Man that I bought at Stop and Go when I was a kid and noticing they were published more than a decade ago.
I'm supposed to be old (well, compared to most of y'all), but I don't act my age. I'm 26. I live in an apartment on a tight budget, I got my furniture at garage sales, I don't keep any kind of regular sleep schedule, and I hang out with college undergrads and blend in so well it's scary. I did get married, but I don't have kids. My husband is 39 and doesn't act any older than I do (which is really scary ). I still act like a kid (as anyone could testify who saw me watching the figure skating last night). Of course, a lot of this is because I'm still in school, but I doubt it will ever improve. I felt old (or like I was supposed to be old) when I taught my first college class and was treated like faculty. Now I'm interviewing for professor positions and I can't believe they're actually buying my "mature" act. Of course, I act differently at home, but I feel like I'm still a kid and sooner or later they're going to discover that. The main reason I feel old (or like I should be old) is what my old friends and classmates are doing now. They're my own age. Some have kids. Some are already divorced and remarried. I'm afraid to go out with them often because they pick restaurants and entertainment that are above my budget. They go to bed before midnight, even on weekends. They act like adults (which is kind of a shame; adults are closed and reserved and too worried about appearing formally proper. I miss the days when everyone my age hung out together and wanted to be friends and when everyone was honest with each other). The only "old" things that have affected me: persistent circles under my eyes, and when I do exercises like squats in a quiet room I notice my knees make crackling noises. It doesn't hurt, but it's weird to think about. I may be getting older, but I refuse to grow up! Second star to the right and straight on till morning.
The moment I knew I was old was when I heard my first niece call me Uncle for the first time. I was 31.
It really is a small world. I was a freshman at Clear Lake High School and Alyson Smith(whose father died in the tragedy) was in my Biology class. I can remember that day vividly as well. I may have run into Mrs. JB at some point in the school halls when I became a sophmore or junior(as the freshman class had their own building) .
It is hard to single out one moment where I knew I was old, but here are some: -I felt old when my Grandmother died. That was the end of my childhood, at least. -I mentioned building up an investment portfolio to my wife last night...that made me feel old. -Using the term "young punk" and not meaning the Sex Pistols, or The Hives. -Realising that young punks today have never heard of The Buzzcocks (except in a Mitsubishi commercial) -Remembering the pre-Computer, Luv Ya Blue and Gilley's world quite vividly. I don't mind being old, but I can't say I have left my youthful behavior (and indiscretions) *completely* behind. The Chemical Brothers are coming to Austin in April and I am compelled to make the eXcellent all-nighter commute from Houston to see them. My one concession to age might be a hotel stay (and r****ded dancing).
