Clark’s Got A Problem.

It seems I’ve been having a lot of “Before Your Time” moments lately.  I don’t really think I’m all that old, but it happens more and more…  I’ll reference an item standard to a life that doesn’t seem that long ago, and they (my kids, or babysitters, or some young person I happen upon at the store) will stare at me blankly as if they’re contemplating how the earth even managed to sustain planetary life back when I was a kid.  

As an example, last night 5 put his pajamas on at warp speed.  When he raced down the stairs in his new duds (appropriately enough his new Superman pajamas), my husband commented, “Wow, that was fast.  Did ya change in a phone booth?”

5, looking curious, replied “What’s a phone booth?”  

Posted in Anecdotes on Aging | |

The Class of 2010

I love it when things work out like this. Just Monday I was posting about how we used to have to write letters to communicate with our good friends afar. Those kinds of things… the things that will make my kids think I am old.. are a constant source of interest to me. If they are to you, too, check out this fascinating list of interesting factoids about the cultural context of the kids entering their freshman year of college. http://www.beloit.edu/~pubaff/mindset/2010.htm

Or, if you are interested in other things that make me feel old - there’s this post.

Posted in Anecdotes on Aging | |

We Became Our Mothers and Fathers Without A Sound.

When I went to college (which really wasn’t all that long ago) my favorite thing to do was check my mail. Not my e-mail. My real, go to the post office, put in the key, pull out the letters mailbox. In it I would almost always find a lovely well-decorated letter from Fabulous or a dark and brooding letter from the non- committal musician boyfriend. Sometimes there would be a package slip, and I would wait in line for a care package full of Scotch Tape and Ho-Hos from Sam’s Club. (Yes, people - Bulk loads of Scotch Tape and Ho-Ho’s; my mom rocks). On occasion Fabulous, or the brooder, or some other friend would send me a - (drum roll) mixed tape.

I would take the mail back to my dorm room, pile it up on the table without opening it. Sometimes I would leave it until after the day’s classes, or take it by myself to the student union to read over lunch – so I could savor the mail, the connection, the time with friends.

During the past decade I endured law school and the partnership track, got married, bore and nursed three children, and tried to become the poster child for the alternative work arrangement. And if you add in there a more-than-healthy dose of family crisis, well you could say I’ve been kind of busy. So that’s my excuse for not actually realizing about all the blogging. I just didn’t know.

That’s how it happens I think. How we become our parents. It’s incremental until one day we just notice that we’re the worried, reminiscent, behind-the-times grown-ups. One day we realize that we don’t know about the hip music, that we aren’t on myspace, that we aren’t podcasting. One day we’re in touch and the next we’re pondering the days when making someone a playlist required time-planning, heavy equipment, and lots of CD’s.

One day we’re rolling our eyes at our parents while we explain that heavy metal music is not for devil worshipers. Then out of nowhere we’re the worried parents … worrying that the emails and the blogging and the itunes will leave nothing for our children to touch, build and savor. Worrying that instead of getting well-decorated letters from the friends they have, our kids will be blogging with ones they’ve not yet met. And I admit it, I know it makes me sound old, but I am really worried about these things.

Posted in Anecdotes on Aging | |

The Old Gray Mare…

Topping today’s list of -random things that make me feel old:

1) These shoes that my oldest brought home yesterday. I remember being a kid and having “old people” make comments like … “Oh, it’s like I just took a trip back in time… just look at that outfit.” I remember thinking these people really must be ancient if they were alive the last time that this cutting-edge fashion (e.g. boot leg hip huggers) was the rage. After all wouldn’t it take at least like twenty or thirty years (gasp) for a fashion trend to reappear?

So when my son pulled these shoes (including very frayed edges that aren’t that visible in the picture) out after his shopping trip with grandma, the realization hit pretty hard … How is it possible that these might be hip? They’re from the 80’s. That wasn’t that long ago - only…(sigh) oh, twenty to thirty years…”

2) Much to his dismay, my hubby’s hair line is starting to recede (albeit ever-so-slightly); and after our big morning out at Home Depot (we ran out of time for Bed, Bath and Beyond) he ditched me and the kids for an afternoon alone at the Ricky Bobby movie. Check back tomorrow for a vicarious report on the movie.

Posted in Anecdotes on Aging | |