What makes one an adult? Is it attaining a certain level of schooling (out of high school? college?)? Is it the moment that you have kids and are thus bumped up a generation? Is it attaining a level of professional accomplishment (being made manager, etc)? Or is it when the generation above you starts to compress?
First, Joe's dad passed in 2004. We were very close with him (although not as close as those more geographically proximal) and it was a hard time for all of us. Joe's Aunt Louise was then the doyenne of the family. When she passed in November, that left only Aunt Carol of that generation.
Yes, my grandparents have all died (starting with Ama in 1997, finishing with Amy in 2008) and that was sad but expected. As Grandma Amy told us "we're old...dying...it's what we do".
Then my Dad got cancer and went through the horrors of treatment. Then the horrors of refusing treatment and letting nature take its course. His passing was anticipated... just the date was unknown. With his passing last week, there is similarly only one person left in the level above me. I'm the oldest in my generation (only one sister) and the layer above me is thinning.
So i guess i'm an adult now? When did i go from being "footloose and free" to over the hill and wrinkly? First "crinkly eyes", then menopause, then grey hairs at my temples and now this. I kept my focus on the kids and my honey and work and then i looked up to find all of this. Yikes.
I'd best go back to playing with play-doh and coloring with markers. Thanks goodness that the visit to Indiana/Ohio this weekend includes staying at Erica and Steve's with their cute-as-a-button kids. I'll be able to color and play and pretend that i'm less the responsible adult that i should be (really, after having passed all the "adult landmarks").
Bring on the silly putty, marshmallow fluff and silly printed t-shirts. At least for a little while longer?
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