When Did I Become Old?

2008-06-21T23:28:00.000-04:00

I was in ShopRite this afternoon. I tend to visit the grocery stores on a daily basis rather then actually making a list and getting everything I need for the week at once. That would be WAY too efficient and WAY too planned. I could never understand those people who plan a weeks worth of meals way ahead of time. How do you know what you feel like having to eat the day or even week before. If, by chance, I get more than the required days food, I never end up feeling like eating what I bought and end up at the grocery store again.

One girl, who works at a local store actually said to me, you are in here as much as I am. It was then that I decided to change the stores now and then so I don't go into the same one every day.

Anyway, today I discovered that I could actually be old. A young kid in produce called me Ma'am. Ma'am has always been a title for older women. At first, I didn't even consider he could be talking to me. There is no way I would be a Ma'am. Well, to my horror, he walked closer and said directly to me, "Ma'am, do you need help finding anything?" The kid was being very helpful and polite but I wanted to clobber him. In that one simple phrase, he threw me into a new age group. All of a sudden, I was classified with those women who I always considered to be old. When did I become old?

I have a full-time job - but I never thought that made me old. I have my own house and car but that didn't make me old either. My boyfriend's seven year old son told me I was lucky to be a grown-up because I could do things he couldn't, but even that didn't make me feel old.

Today, being called Ma'am accomplished that. So, the world may see me as a woman in her thirties, but to me, I will always be Just a Girl.

Just A Girl

When Did I Become Old?