There are odd milestones that make me feel old.
They’re not even really the big ones that you’d expect. They’re not ones that Hallmark has built a party theme around. They don’t involve the words “over” and/or “hill”. Most people probably wouldn’t even acknolwedge them.
The first time I felt old was when I was too old to apply for MTV’s The Real World. Shut up; you know you wanted to be on that show too. And it was ALWAYS in my plans. And suddenly, I was too old. No mas, Sarah. No nationally televised rebellion for you. DAMNIT.
The second time I felt old: TODAY.
Today, I have worked for my company for five years.
(And really, I’ve worked for them for ::gulp:: SEVEN years. Just the first two, I was with a temp agency.)
I waffle between still feeling like that naive, wide-eyed, carefree admin assistant and today’s entirely overwhelmed and too-knowledgable-for-her-own-good program operations specialist. Whereas I have no issue reporting to work every Friday morning at 6:30 for a meeting, I still look longingly out the window every Spring Break because I SHOULD be at the beach. I’ve met all of the VPs in our industry and a lot of them know be my name, but I’m still unsure of how much eye makeup I’m allowed to wear at the office.
But now? Now, I got a service award from the company. We’re celebrating tomorrow afternoon at a restaurant. I’ve been doing this for .. five .. years.
It’s like canceling Friends and only being allowed to watch 60 Minutes.
This past July, I was at my company seven years too. SEVEN.
Soon, it will be 10.
And then I’ll have mom hair.
Just kill me now and put me out of my misery.
I felt old the other night while at “New Moon” (shut up) and my annoyance at the teenagers next to me who would not. stop. talking. I was absolutely a cranky old lady. I like to think the fact that it happened while at a teen movie helps a little bit… But then I remember I was thinking unpure thoughts about Jacob and feel like a creepy old lady. Just can’t win!
(I think I will feel even older when I hit December 2010 and realize it has been 10 years since I graduated from college… 9 years doesn’t seem old but 10, yikes, I can’t possibly be that old!)
I think you are amazing.
Congratulations, the first five is the toughest, it’s all downhill from here – you just don’t know when you hit bottom….
Seriously, I’m very proud of you for sticking to it. Before you know it ten years will be here and you will be one of those VPs you were talking about.
Congrats!
I feel odd for odd reasons too. My most reason was Courtney Cox. She went from playing a young, single girl in NYC to playing a cougar with a teenaged son worrying that she was too old to date the boy toy she was dating. I couldn’t watch the show more than once because it really messed with how I view myself. I was able to identify w/her Friends character because she was only a couple of years older than I was – how the hell did I end up only a couple of years away from being a cougar? AHHHHHH
wow holy typos…old for odd reasons…most recent reason
[...] commenting on a blog tonight, I was reminded of something that has been bugging me. Courtney Cox has (had?) a new show this [...]
Congratulations on your award!
I felt old when I found out the one of the girls I used to babysit for juts got engaged.
Next up? Extra fiber!