Saturday, April 14, 2007

It's a Simple Question, Really

When I was in India, I had a very nice conversation with the bus driver's helper on hot afternoon when I was supposed to be shopping for expensive rugs but instead sat outside in a shady corner and ate my granola bar lunch. Malikit asked me how old I was. For no reason, I started to answer that I am 20-whatever. I realized as I was saying it that I was not in my twenties, and corrected myself, saying I was 31. I'm sure he thought I was a nut job. (Well, he's not wrong about that, but that's not the point.)

Last night while Husband and I had pierogies with friends, I told one of them that by age 32, I already became a dried up prune.

"Thank goodness you are only 31, then," Husband responded.

"Oh yeah," I said, a bit mystified that I yet again forgot my age.

It's funny how memory "works," and a mite frightening, too.

6 comments:

  1. I do that sometimes. For some reason, I can never remember that I'm 25. I say I'm 26, because that's how old Craig is.
    Oh well.

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  2. Thank you! I thought I was the only one who does that! It's strange, scary, and a bit embarrassing....

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  3. Ahhh I'm 28 now, and still try to say I'm 25. I think it's a three year reference point, that and I always think about what I Was up to then.

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  4. 31? Is that your final offer? :-)

    Last year I had a conversation with my mom where she mentioned how much she was dreading her impending 70th birthday, because it was a milestone and she'd feel old.

    I said "Mom? You're 71, arent you? You were born in 1935 and this is 2006."

    And she grabbed her face and started making this wailing, keening noise, and I thought, "Oh, shit! I'vr killed my mother."

    No need to thank me. That's what good daughters are for. To help.

    Ev

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  5. dude! you, too? i totally forgot how old i was a couple of times lately. onset of senile dementia?...meh.

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  6. i always forget how old i am... i think 30

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