Coffee Table Declarations
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
A new girl and I were making idle conversation today, when she asked me if I went to school full time and worked here part time or what. It took me a few seconds to realize what she was talking about and then I felt inwardly appalled that she was so convinced I was a college kid that she would ask me that question.
I told her I'm older than I look and she said that she is also older than she looks. I asked how old she is (fully expecting her to be my age and therefore having the same problem of people assuming she is a college kid) and she said "22". Um... 22??? Even my roommate is 23 and she was born in 1980. 22 practically is a college kid. Why is it that at 28 when I'm trying to convince myself that I am still young and not a bit over the hill, do I find myself surrounded by girls in their very early 20's? What is the universe trying to tell me? It's too bad because I had high hopes that we were going to be friends since there are very few late-20-something girls here to bond with. I'm not saying that we won't become friends now. I am not an age snob. It's just that I would really like to make some friends who understand what it feels like to be nearing 30 and still having no idea where your life is going.
I know what everyone says - that I will be glad when I am older to look so young. But it's the fact that I'm trying to get ahead in the corporate world and am percieved as a college kid that is so frustrating. Like recently, another new person started asking me about school and when I told him how old I was he said, "Oh my gosh, no way. You look like a little girl!" Oh well, at least it's kind of fun to freak people out.
* * * * *
There's this woman here who is not necessarily outwardly friendly to me and was definately the prime negative naysayer from the feedback I got during my review. Ever since then I have been walking around with these bad feelings toward her, or at least feeling like she is walking around with bad feelings toward me. Then, this afternoon, apropos of nothing, she came to my desk and gave me a teddy bear she had gotten from one of our clients. He's a cool teddy bear wearing a pilot's outfit (relating to the business of the client) complete with scarf and goggles. I had wanted one since the client arrived this morning with a couple bears to give out to the executives he was meeting with. Anyway, this woman said to me that she knew I would enjoy having him. What a completely kind and generous gesture that was. Now I feel awful that I was thinking badly of her when really, she's quite obviously my best friend! Sometimes people surprise you.
I told her I'm older than I look and she said that she is also older than she looks. I asked how old she is (fully expecting her to be my age and therefore having the same problem of people assuming she is a college kid) and she said "22". Um... 22??? Even my roommate is 23 and she was born in 1980. 22 practically is a college kid. Why is it that at 28 when I'm trying to convince myself that I am still young and not a bit over the hill, do I find myself surrounded by girls in their very early 20's? What is the universe trying to tell me? It's too bad because I had high hopes that we were going to be friends since there are very few late-20-something girls here to bond with. I'm not saying that we won't become friends now. I am not an age snob. It's just that I would really like to make some friends who understand what it feels like to be nearing 30 and still having no idea where your life is going.
I know what everyone says - that I will be glad when I am older to look so young. But it's the fact that I'm trying to get ahead in the corporate world and am percieved as a college kid that is so frustrating. Like recently, another new person started asking me about school and when I told him how old I was he said, "Oh my gosh, no way. You look like a little girl!" Oh well, at least it's kind of fun to freak people out.
* * * * *
There's this woman here who is not necessarily outwardly friendly to me and was definately the prime negative naysayer from the feedback I got during my review. Ever since then I have been walking around with these bad feelings toward her, or at least feeling like she is walking around with bad feelings toward me. Then, this afternoon, apropos of nothing, she came to my desk and gave me a teddy bear she had gotten from one of our clients. He's a cool teddy bear wearing a pilot's outfit (relating to the business of the client) complete with scarf and goggles. I had wanted one since the client arrived this morning with a couple bears to give out to the executives he was meeting with. Anyway, this woman said to me that she knew I would enjoy having him. What a completely kind and generous gesture that was. Now I feel awful that I was thinking badly of her when really, she's quite obviously my best friend! Sometimes people surprise you.
