Older by the day
On the first day of my internship, my supervisor walked me around and introduced me to a few people who I'll be working with or job shadowing during my time at the library. One of them, who works behind the circulation desk and whose name I can never remember, but who, I was told, has nine children, greeted me with "She's a cute little intern -- look at her cute hair!" -- which was horrifying.
Perhaps even worse, though, the following week I ended up sitting next to her at the wedding shower. She must have noticed the ring on my finger, because she asked if I was engaged. When I said, no, actually I've been married for just about five years, she looked me in the face and said, "You're not that young!"
No. No, I'm not. And I'm going through one of those phases where I feel just ancient. Besides being the disappointingly old intern, I am several years older than the new librarian who is starting this month at my reference job. As an old married person, I also find myself mentally referring to my brother and his fiancee as "the kids," even though they are barely two years younger than me.*
And I'm not the only one in the household going through an early midlife crisis. M. Defarge starts his graduate classes today. Last week the program had some sort of meet-and-greet at a local bar. He came home subdued. Not only were the majority of the attendees already partway through the program, but they were primarily members of the under-25 set as well. "I'm a nontraditional student," he moaned.
I guess we both are. Thankfully, I'll be done long before my 30th birthday, though. He's 30 and just starting; by the time the three years are up, he'll probably be in the midst of a real midlife crisis.
--
* Wedding update: I am officially a bridesmaid. My mother is extremely relieved. Crisis averted!
Perhaps even worse, though, the following week I ended up sitting next to her at the wedding shower. She must have noticed the ring on my finger, because she asked if I was engaged. When I said, no, actually I've been married for just about five years, she looked me in the face and said, "You're not that young!"
No. No, I'm not. And I'm going through one of those phases where I feel just ancient. Besides being the disappointingly old intern, I am several years older than the new librarian who is starting this month at my reference job. As an old married person, I also find myself mentally referring to my brother and his fiancee as "the kids," even though they are barely two years younger than me.*
And I'm not the only one in the household going through an early midlife crisis. M. Defarge starts his graduate classes today. Last week the program had some sort of meet-and-greet at a local bar. He came home subdued. Not only were the majority of the attendees already partway through the program, but they were primarily members of the under-25 set as well. "I'm a nontraditional student," he moaned.
I guess we both are. Thankfully, I'll be done long before my 30th birthday, though. He's 30 and just starting; by the time the three years are up, he'll probably be in the midst of a real midlife crisis.
--
* Wedding update: I am officially a bridesmaid. My mother is extremely relieved. Crisis averted!
posted by Madame Defarge at 1:02 PM
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