Saturday, November 7, 2009

Old or young?

So can you all remember when 30 seemed really old? I kind of can. Now that I'm 28, 30 doesn't seem very old. So throughout my life I have always felt very young. I am the youngest of 6 children, I was usually the youngest person in my dance/singing classes. When I started college and people would ask me what year I graduated and I would say 2000, they would all say oh wow you are so young. I think that one is just because 2000 sounds so much younger than just one year before when you could say 99. Then I graduated from college in 4 years, which is technically normal but can be quite a record these days. So then when I went into home health as a 22 year old RN all of my patients would ask me how long I had been a nurse. I could tell they were worried I didn't have enough experience. So anyway, to sum up I have often wondered when this feeling would change, I can't be the young one forever. So I have noticed the past few years, that none of my patients have asked me how long I have been a nurse, then I had a funny experience last night. We went to a pizza buffet for our friday night outing (yes that is as exciting as it gets around here!) Jamie had taken Grace and Sarah to get their food so I was sitting with Abi at our table. I overhear this couple in the booth next to me, here is their conversation. The boy, " She was, well mature looking." The girl, "Mature looking?" The boy, "Yes definitely mature looking." The girl, " So she definitely looked 30." The boy, " Oh yeah, she DEFINITELY looked 30." I had to stop myself from laughing outloud. What does that even mean? 30 isn't old. I looked over at them and thought, I don't look that much older than these 20 year olds. But then as I watched Abi shove some cheese, gold fish crackers, and ham cubes in her mouth all at the same time I realized something. I do look older than these people! I am this 30 year old person they are referring to! It just kind of struck me as a funny moment, so I thought I would share. I think I always thought I would somehow feel different when I got older. Some of patients will tell me how hard it is sometimes when they see a reflection of themself walking with their walker in the window because they will look at it and think, that's not me. I don't feel that old. I guess we never really change who we are or how we feel, unfortunately just the way we look!