B-Day
How old are people once they realize that age is taking effect? Sep 13 was my B-day and I turned 23 years old. It feels different then the other years. Growing up what ages were significant to you? The first one to me was turning 10 years old in 1992. Things I remember from that year were Bill Clinton being elected president,Hurricane Andrew destroying everything near my home(my home only suffered mild damage),and playing Super Nintendo. As a kid turning 10, it means you finally have reached double digits in your age like your parents. I remember on that day I didn't feel like a little boy anymore that I now have the same amount of digits in your age as you parents.
My next milestone was turning 13 years old in 1995. I remember 1995 being the year when they had the Oklahoma City bombing, U.S sent troops to Bosnia,and me purchasing my 1st CD. Turning 13 for anyone is a very confusing with changes that your are begining to grow into adulthood. I personally didn't feel that way because I still didn't have facial hair, I was only 5'3,and I didn't drive. At that age I kinda felt the 1st real step into adulthood was getting a drivers liscense.
On September 13,1998 I turned 16 years old. In 1998 I remember the Starr Report,Michael Jordan retiring a 2nd time,and me getting a drivers liscense.Reading the facts I listed at turning 13,I should be considered an adult at this point(or so I thought). I had a little bit of facial hair,I was 6 feet tall,and I could drive. But the fact of the matter is it still feels difficult to be an adult when you still can't legally drink,smoke,join the military,or get a tattoo.
When September 13,2000 rolled around I finally became a legal adult. I turned 18 years old. In 2000 I remember George W. Bush getting elected,reaching my childhood goal of becoming an Eagle Scout,and fell in love for my 1st time. When I was 18 years old I was beyond reckless at that age. I drank alot, did drugs,had sex with random women,partied all the time,but still managed to balance work and school(School for me was only 3.5 hours a day by that point).When you turn 18 years old I may have been a lot of things but a responsible adult wasn't one of them. I wondered how my life would turnout at this point?
I flew to have my 21st B-day in Texas on September 13, 2003. In 2003 I remember we invaded Iraq,Sadaam Housein was captured,and I could finally have a legal beer.I was pretty lost at this point. I was in College at a time when I didn't know what to do,I didn't have a g/f because I couldn't seem to meet the right one. Things should feel different at this age but really didn't. My lifestyled chilled out a lot by this point and I was still wondering what the future held for me.
I bring you to today. Septemeber 13,2005 I turned 23 years old. So far in 2005 we had Hurricane Katrina, super inflated gasoline prices,and me officially reaching manhood. Not a milestone year by any means but it feels significant to me. This was the 1st B-day where I actually felt like an adult and not pretending to be one like I have for approximately the last 5 years. At this point I work a full time job doing cable tv for Comcast,I have my own home,and I'm dating a beautiful girl named Alia Sanchez for the past year. Things these days have been looking up for me. I know now the way I'm approcahed and the way I act truly make me a man. The real definition of a man is not when he can drive,drink,get tattoos,or how many digits he has in his age. A real man is a male who can stand on his own two feet,make responsible descisons,and carry himself with dignity and respect.
My next milestone was turning 13 years old in 1995. I remember 1995 being the year when they had the Oklahoma City bombing, U.S sent troops to Bosnia,and me purchasing my 1st CD. Turning 13 for anyone is a very confusing with changes that your are begining to grow into adulthood. I personally didn't feel that way because I still didn't have facial hair, I was only 5'3,and I didn't drive. At that age I kinda felt the 1st real step into adulthood was getting a drivers liscense.
On September 13,1998 I turned 16 years old. In 1998 I remember the Starr Report,Michael Jordan retiring a 2nd time,and me getting a drivers liscense.Reading the facts I listed at turning 13,I should be considered an adult at this point(or so I thought). I had a little bit of facial hair,I was 6 feet tall,and I could drive. But the fact of the matter is it still feels difficult to be an adult when you still can't legally drink,smoke,join the military,or get a tattoo.
When September 13,2000 rolled around I finally became a legal adult. I turned 18 years old. In 2000 I remember George W. Bush getting elected,reaching my childhood goal of becoming an Eagle Scout,and fell in love for my 1st time. When I was 18 years old I was beyond reckless at that age. I drank alot, did drugs,had sex with random women,partied all the time,but still managed to balance work and school(School for me was only 3.5 hours a day by that point).When you turn 18 years old I may have been a lot of things but a responsible adult wasn't one of them. I wondered how my life would turnout at this point?
I flew to have my 21st B-day in Texas on September 13, 2003. In 2003 I remember we invaded Iraq,Sadaam Housein was captured,and I could finally have a legal beer.I was pretty lost at this point. I was in College at a time when I didn't know what to do,I didn't have a g/f because I couldn't seem to meet the right one. Things should feel different at this age but really didn't. My lifestyled chilled out a lot by this point and I was still wondering what the future held for me.
I bring you to today. Septemeber 13,2005 I turned 23 years old. So far in 2005 we had Hurricane Katrina, super inflated gasoline prices,and me officially reaching manhood. Not a milestone year by any means but it feels significant to me. This was the 1st B-day where I actually felt like an adult and not pretending to be one like I have for approximately the last 5 years. At this point I work a full time job doing cable tv for Comcast,I have my own home,and I'm dating a beautiful girl named Alia Sanchez for the past year. Things these days have been looking up for me. I know now the way I'm approcahed and the way I act truly make me a man. The real definition of a man is not when he can drive,drink,get tattoos,or how many digits he has in his age. A real man is a male who can stand on his own two feet,make responsible descisons,and carry himself with dignity and respect.