When I started my last job, about 6 months after graduation, the interns were older than me. This caused some problems with one or two who 1.) kept calling me "Ms. Smither" and 2.) ignored me when I gave them tasks. Pompous jerks. At my current job, happily, I'm right at the median age.
Age is a strange thing these days. I have some friends right out of school in their early 20s (and some of their friends are still 18 or 19), and others in their early to mid 30s. Being 25, it's not too weird to hang out with any one in that range (although my behavior changes a bit), but I understand it when the 32-year-old says she feels awkward drinking with the 21-year-old.
What gets to me a little more is what I call the "Office Space Phenomenon." for example, this morning I rode the bus into work with a co-worker and we discussed the pros and cons of our neighborhood dry cleaners. Agag! Am I so boring?! To be fair, we later talked about bands we were going to download from iTunes after seeing them live. But you get the point. My usual lunch conversation revolves around network TV shows that aired the night before, and my neighbors are having their second annual Oscar party this weekend.
So, for me at least, the real measure of my age feels more acute as I notice my immersion in pop culture. It reflects for me that adult, work-a-day, water cooler socialization. I'm not too old to rebel, but I am old enough to see that "rebellion" is just as conformist as watching the latest Alan Sorkin show.
Man, I'm sleepy. Where's that intern with my next cup of coffee?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
You mean Aaron Sorkin? What's wrong with his shows?
That's amusing that you feel older when you have "watercooler" conversations with co-workers. I am by far the youngest were I work, yet all of our conversations usually take on an immature tone (lots of jokes, innuendo, poking fun, etc.). But I do see what you mean regarding pop culture- I am so "unhip" when it comes to what's "cool" and new these days. I am pretty disgusted by most of what I see on TV or hear on the radio. I'd much rather watch Monty Python's Flying Circus or an old Hitchcock movie. Except for Lost. Man that's a good show.
But my sense of humor doesn't endear me to my older co-workers, and my pop-culture references (80s and 90s) don't go over extremely well either. So I'm kind of in some weird middle. But I've never looked at any of that stuff and thought that it made me feel old or young.
I had a surreal moment about a year ago. I was out to eat with Caitlin's parents, and a friend of both families, and all of a sudden I looked around and thought "How bizarre - I'm having margaritas with my friends' parents". But they're my friends now too, even though they're 50 (or close to that age).
In fact, while Jodie was still living in L.C., she, my friend Becky and I all hung out together, and there was a 10 yr age gap between each one of us. (Ok well 20 between Becky and myself).
But I never feel like the kid in the group (unless they start reminiscing, and it's the same way at work. In fact, I think I can say that I do my job better than some people who have been there longer and are older than I am.
Sometimes it's weird when I have to teach students who are substantially older than me. But they're usually pretty decent students, so it's not that bad.
Next week I am going to Hotlanta for a writing conference, and the people I'm carpooling with range in age from 22 to 35.
Post a Comment