32

I turned 32 last week.  I was in meetings for work all day in Charlotte, NC, so I didn’t get the chance to reflect on how old I have become.  That was probably a good thing.  Unfortunately it’s started crashing down on me today.  At lunch, Becky and I went out to get my haircut and the car serviced.  I got my hair cut incredibly quickly (taking in full view of my receding hairline) and then walked towards the Jiffy Lube about 5 blocks away.  While crossing a busy street in Fargo (work with me here – it’s about as busy as Fargo streets get), I turned my foot stepping off the median on the street and bruised my foot.  I managed to limp across the street in excruciating pain and have since hobbled around the rest of the day.

 

It started me reflecting on what would have happened if the same event occurred 14 years ago.  I’m sure it would have hurt for about 5 minutes, and then I would’ve shaken it off and gone on with my day.  In looking back at my injuries suffered this year (throwing my back out twice – once putting on my socks and once getting out of the shower), it’s really starting to hit me that I’m old.  In talking with my 41-year-old boss at work, he says when he visits the doctor now, his diagnosis is always – "Remember, you’re not 18 anymore".  All of his injuries are due to the fact that he thinks (wishes) he were still 18 and could do everything as he could back then.  I feel I’m in a similar boat, except he teaches Tae Kwan Do and I’m just trying to get dressed for work.

 

I find I’m starting to forget memories of high school now.  Up until now, I could recall the high school days like it was just a year or two ago, but it really seems to be more distant now.  At Homecoming for my college this year, there was a gathering of 1996 graduates.  I realize I’m just too far removed now from those days that going back would be mostly pointless.  I think once you have kids, your high school and college memories start to slip out of your brain to be filled by the knowledge of Halloween costumes for the main characters in Dora the Explorer.

 

Thanks to everyone who sent cards and presents for my birthday – I truly appreciate it.  With some stretching, some visits to doctors and chiropractors, I hope to be able to patch this old body together long enough to try out age 33.

 

FYI – Live Spaces wouldn’t let me publish my original title for this piece – I tried to write my age in roman numerals.