Last week on vacation I was mistaken for 16. No, this was not a joke, when a middle-age woman was asked how I old i was she genuinely thought I was 16 and I laughed. Sure I still get carded at the liquor store most of the time, though it’s quite common in NYC, but a teenager? It really threw me for a loop – she legitimately thought I looked like I was in high school and then quickly covered with the usual line, “you will be so thankful when you are older!” Older? What is old? When do you officially become an adult? I am not asking this hypothetically or for the sake of argument but I would consider that at this stage in my life I am officially a grown up. With one exception.
This time of year has all of my friends turning to each other over a glass of wine and whispering – are you doing your own taxes? Believe it or not tax day is a month a way and is actually NOT on April 15th this year (it is on April 18th, trust me). While my close group of friends may all be in our mid to late 20’s tax season has trading tips on the best software to use, the place we take or taxes, or a few grudgingly admitting we still ask parents asking for help.
Family Photo from Last Week in the Galapagos
(I thought it was fitting plus I really just like the photo 🙂 )
After at least five years in the real world we have all figured out those pesky internet, cable, and utility bills but taxes are still one of the sticky parts. Sometimes as an adult there are things I just wish I could skip over – can’t we just do the fun parts? One of my favorite Facebook accounts, Humans of New York, which I blogged about here, posted a story I found summed it up quite well:
And on that same note, that cooking is a lot more than following the directions on the back of the mac and cheese box.
There are a lot of things I have learned since leaving my parents house nine years ago like choosing the right insurance plan, how much milk costs / what a good price is, why it is so important to have good insurance, the economical advantages bringing your lunch and as my dad often says, that money does not grow on trees. But on the other hand those grown up responsibilities come with grown up privileges like having Halo ice cream for dinner if you feel like it, paychecks, boozy brunch, and solo Euro trips. I think you get the picture 🙂
To cap it off I wanted to share this quote from Meredith Grey from a Grey’s Anatomy episode that DID air when I was 16:
There comes a point in your life when you’re officially an adult. Suddenly you’re old enough to vote, drink and engage in other adult activities. Suddenly people expect you to be responsible, serious, a grown-up. We get taller, we get older, but do we ever really grow up?
Cheers to becoming an adult, the good with the bad, and to tomorrow being Friday!
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Lucy says
What a great perspective and to be honest, I still have to ask for help with my taxes too….
Gentry says
The “older” I get, the less “old I feel- ha! It’s crazy how your perspective changes!
Maddy says
I don’t think we ever really “grow up” or at least I hope I don’t have to. Priorities shift of course, and different responsibilities come into play, but I hope I never become stodgy and stuffy hahaha.
xo, Maddy
http://cassidylou.com/
Pam says
But let’s hope that we never loose the fun of being a child. To do something just because we want to even though it makes no sense. To never loose the wonder at seeing a rainbow, smelling a flower or just being silly.
Here’s to keeping the silly in our daily lives as we gracefully grown up!
Elle sees says
I’m 40 (cringe) but don’t feel old at all. I still catch myself calling myself a girl. I feel the exact same as always. The older I get, the more the age moves away from old. Seventy is old to me now!