Kids These Days

Yesterday, I had my friend Ellen over to help me unpack some boxes from the move.

When I was a senior in high school, I baby-sat Ellen and her siblings. Ellen is the youngest and everyone she meets loves her curly black hair so much they touch it; friends and strangers. It used to drive her dad nuts.

4 1/2 short years ago Ellen was the flower girl at my wedding. Now she's in 8th grade, wears big hoop earrings and dates boys who can drive! She's at a point where everyone around her has to admit she's growing up.

Now for the embarrassing part.

I asked her what the kids are wearing these days to see how out of touch I am. Surf culture is back in style (God bless the 80's, which were totally radical). Popular clothing stores are Abercrombie, American Eagle and Hollister. Also, the kids don't like Britney Spears and won't admit to liking Hilary Duff, although they own her CDs. I'm sure Paris Hilton just seems old. The kids are listening to rap and R&B. Today, I learned that kids as young as 8 own Ipod Nanos!

Ellen was recalling some of her friends who drive different cars to their after school activities based on the weather or their plans for the day. They will drive the truck one day and the sports car the next day. I've seen the kids around here and I know she's not kidding. At that point in the conversation I actually said, "What is the world coming to?..." and then I said "wow, I sound old..." and then I freaked out because people used to say that to ME! And I used to think, "yeah, you're old."

So, Damn it! I'm old!

Upon further soul searching, I have come to peace with my age since I have such a wonderful life and there's no way I'd want to go back to being an 8th grader. Hell no.