I Think I Might Be Old But That's Impossible
One day you wake up and you're single, have some coin in your pocket, and you're ready to take on the world. Then you blink and you're on the doorstep of 40, live in the burbs with your wife and kid, and you're left wondering, "When did this happen?"
I think the weirdest part about being where I am at in my life is that I do not feel old. I am still in fairly good shape…ish. I have plenty of energy. I still don't get hangovers and don't let my wife try to spew nonsense otherwise because anyone who stays up past 2am is going to be tired the next day. I am very active - I play golf, I go to the gym regularly, and although soreness sometimes lingers longer than it used to, I don't wallow and whine that I'm old.
I also think back to when I was <20 years old and the people who were my age now just seemed further along in their lives. i don't feel behind by any stretch, they older can't explain it. maybe go ask other "old" dudes here (large, kevin, dan, dave, whit, clem, klemmer) can put it into words better than me. < p>
This morning I was hit with two large bombs that knocked me off my feet and truly made me think, "Am I the old man yelling at a cloud now?"
This morning on The Dozen Trivia(TM) there was question about a Backstreet Boys song that I didn't even have to think twice about. I immediately started singing the song to myself as I typed in the title. Nick here seems blown away that I would know that answer sans Google. However when I google it now and remember it came out in 1997 (27 years ago for the math students in the room) I realize for me to be of an age that I vividly remember those lyrics I have to be well north of 27 years old. Yikes and here it feels to me like the 90s were 10 years ago.
Then we have the more egregious of the two bombs…
Signing of the Declaration of Independence is probably 4th grade social studies, which would've been 1993/1994 for me JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH. Everyone knows the guy's name was John Hancock but who doesn't love a good reference from one of the funniest movies of all time, Tommy Boy. You would've thought I was referencing Casablanca with this person but then I realized they were born the year this movie came out (1994 once again holy schnikes) and had never even seen this masterpiece. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! If you're reading this and realizing you've never seen it either I implore you to do that tonight when you get home. I'm sure there are jokes made that would get you canceled today but take it for what it is and just watch.
I guess my point is twofold: I'm not old and the young folk need to get some culture. There is not a single song or single movie made in the last 5 years that can hold a candle to the greatness that was, is, and always will be As Long As You Love Me and Tommy Boy.
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