What is “that age”? When are you at “that age”? You know the one I’m talking about. The one when you’re having a conversation about someone, something, or anything and somebody says, “Well, you know, you are getting to ‘that age’”. And, no matter how old you are, “that age” always seems to apply to you. There is no actual numerical value or true age attached with “that age”.
Let me explain about “that age”. The teen years. Acne begins. Hormones rage. Awkwardness sets in. It is all due to being, “that age”. I can’t even remember how many times my parents or my parents’ friends would say, “Well, you know. She is getting to be that age”. Then you begin to approach adulthood. You exert more independence as curfews are lifted and you get closer to going off to college. Again, you heard from parents and their friends, “Well, you know, she is getting to that age”.
Enter adulthood. Meet full and total independence. Graduate from college. Dating relationships became more serious. Out looking for “the one”. Time passes a bit more as you date and figure out who and what you want in a mate. Now, for me, I was passing by the average age of marriage. According to the older generation I was damn near an old maid. How many times did my parents hear, “When will she meet someone to settle down with? When will she get married? You know, she is getting to that age?”. Really? What age is that? Was I about to rot like a ripe old melon?
Whew..finally marriage occurred. Thank God before I shriveled up from being “that age”. Then, after you’re married for more than five minutes, the questions came about having babies. ”When will you have kids? When will you get pregnant? You know, you are getting to be that age.” Again? I’m at that age again? How many times in one’s life can one be at “that age?”. I mean really?!
Two rites of passage down and I am still hearing how I’m getting to or I am at “that age”. Friends are getting divorced. “Well you know, you are getting to that age”. It’s harder to lose weight or keep in shape. ”Well, you know, you are at that age”. Routine blood tests result in higher cholesterol and unhealthy numbers. ”Well, you know, you are at that age now.” Still? I’m still at “that age”? Good golly! Will it ever end?
The most ironic thing about being at “that age” is as old as I am, guess what? My young children are at “that age” too. It is timeless. As both my children grow and behaviors change guess what we all attribute it to? You guessed it: That age. My daughter has meltdowns, “she’s at that age”. My son doesn’t like loud noises, “he’s at that age”. My daughter asserts independence by wanting to get dressed herself, “she’s at that age”. My son asks lots of questions about the world around him, “he’s at that age”.
You can never escape being “that age”. We will always be at “that age”. As we enter senility and have our licenses taken away, our independence taken away, even some of our friends taken away, instead of hearing, “Well, you know, you are at that age”, WE will be saying, “Well, you know, we are at that age”. ”That age” is boundless, endless, and perpetual. No matter how old we are, we are at that age. But, on the bright side, always being at “that age” makes us ageless and that ain’t such a bad thing, don’t you think?
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