Coming of age has been weird for me
December 28, 2005: 11:27 PM

Coming of age has been weird for me, and I'm sure it's a common enough lament.

I'm sure everybody gets kind of sappy when they hit their early twentysomethings and they notice change everywhere around them. I really hope that I'm no worse at coping with it than anybody else, but it's not really the easiest conversation piece to bring up.

I'm only 21 by the law of averages.

Let me explain.

I don't do very many 21-year-old things. Instead, I do a lot of 10-year-old things and a lot of 32-year-old things. These average out to a cool 21, and in my mind, this is normal enough.

10-year-old things like making corny jokes and hanging out and playing video games for hours on end. Waking up at noon and thinking that it's way too early for me to be awake, unless it's Saturday, when I tend to hold a certain fondness for cartoons and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

32-year-old things like wearing a suit and tie to work and liking it. Having a beard and thinking that it's a shame there aren't more beards around. Feeling like I'm never satisfied if I'm not busy, and having trouble being in a relaxed state for too long a time.

I know, it doesn't work. 21-year-olds are supposed to have very specific attributes.

And I know this is going to get two whole groups of people shaking their heads: The older generation who wishes they were 21 again and could value their time just dicking around in university. And the younger teenagers who just long for adulthood and adult privilege and all that nonsense.

My options for things to do tonight came down to:

• Go play video games with some friends for a few hours


• Go to the bar and socialize, shoot some pool, watch the game


• Sit by the fireplace and read some of the books I got for Christmas, try to teach myself Ruby