Older?

There aren't really clear lines that we cross from one phase of life into the next. Sure, there are obvious things like getting married or having children. But, there is no clear line to determine when a person crosses from youth to adult. And from young adult to middle aged adult. And so on.

I've often wondered if I will still feel like a kid when I am 60. Because I certainly felt like kid when I turned 30...and in the words of Deana Carter, "I still remember when 30 was old."

But I've had two experiences in the past week that have made me wonder if I might be growing up (or growing older?). The first happened after I got my hair cut. I had a couple of people mistake me for a university student. That is not unusual--I have always been told I look much younger than I am. Normally, this frustrates me--I just want to look my age! I don't want to look like a university student. But last week, when one person said she thought I was a student, my gut level reaction was, "nice." I appreciated it. Strange.

The second experience happened in the mall on Saturday. I was sitting in the food court, watching all of the dynamics of various relationships get played out on several stages. And as I watched a number parents of young children find tables and get their lunch, I thought, "Wow, they look young."

I still most often feel like a kid. Some of that might be the youngest child syndrome. But maybe I'm growing "older" in small ways.