Growing Old is Getting Old

"I will never be old. To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am." - Francis Bacon 

I wish that I could just keep things here for a while. I have always thought that 21 is the perfect age - old enough to be independent, but young enough that you have your whole life ahead of you. Granted I am 23, and life has not already flown past me, but still, I am noticing a change in my thought patterns, speech, and even in my body that make me realize that I am getting older - and I don't like it. Here are some examples:

·     I refer to college students as "kids" - as in, "Boy, this town sure is different when the college kids are gone" (also note the "Boy" as a telltale sign of getting old)

·     When I am out in the sun, I imagine myself being diagnosed with skin cancer and am even tempted to lather on the SPF...but not quite there yet.

·     Staying up past 11:00 p.m. is now reserved for weekends only, and even then I find myself drifting off earlier

·     A brochure about Botox caught my eye, and I considered it for the crows feet that I will undoubtedly acquire from my squinty smile within a few years

·     Anti-aging products are now being marketed to my demographic - guess I will have to upgrade from the Clearasil Acne Wash to Oil of Olay Anti-Aging Formula

·    When I go up the stairs, my knees crack audibly

·    Running hurts my hips

·    A child referred to me as a "woman" rather than as a "girl" and a high school boy called me "ma'am"

·    Last night while having dinner with my friends, the idea of a "coupon cutting party" was presented, and though it wasn't my idea (ahem...Whitney Talley)...I got giddy with excitement

I have a lot to look forward to as I age, such as a career, children, retirement (yes, I'm already looking foward to this) and everything else that God has store for me, but for now, can I just hit pause for a while?