And Soon, I Shall be Thirty
It has been explained to me that life starts making WAY more sense after 30. People respect you for who you are, you are able to get better jobs, folks laugh at your jokes, you know.
I've been actually seeing signs of it for a while. These days, I've been referring to it as ageism, but I'm not certain that's accurate. I just know that I have been making the same random jokes with strangers since I was 17, and only recently does a stranger laugh. Sometimes the joke that I was telling (often in a sarcastic, self-depreciating tone) isn't funny from a 17-year-old but is hilarious from a 30-something.
Observe, one of my favorites:
Scene-- classroom. Poetry class. The Teacher (Ann Olive. SMOKING HOT, OMG) is talking about language and she asks the class, "Wouldn't you rather be referred to as 'beautiful' rather than 'cute'?"
And I didn't miss a beat.
I hollered from the back of the room, "I'd rather not be lied to!"
I was so proud of myself for that one!! My timing was PERFECT! My tone was ON POINT! The unexpectedness of it was sharpened to a fine edge!
BUT! Not only did no one laugh, no one acknowledged it! And I'm thinking I could *probably* get away with such a joke now. Because as a woman, those words appear to come from experience. As a 20-year-old, it seemed like grasping for attention.
I worked just as hard--if not harder--at Seams-Unusual when I was younger and was solely focused on sewing. But as soon as I stopped, I had more attention than I could handle. Strangers were contacting me about wedding dresses like never before. I nearly had a long-term contract with a bellydance company (ooh, I screwed that up so embarrassingly that I pretty much never speak of it...).
I dunno.
Trying to imagine the workforce as somehow being "better" now that I'm older and (when I graduate in 2015 or 16) have a degree.
Trying to tell myself that my parents trust me with money now and I can ask for more to pay some medical bills.
I've been attending a lot more meetings and non-required networking evenings or seminars at my school. I am attending EVERYTHING that I can--even things only tangentially related to my major. I have often found myself to be The Only Artist In The Room, and its a little isolating, but because I'm fuckin FANTASTIC at small talk (the great boobs don't hurt) it gives me something of an edge... as I am the only artist in the room.
Been positive so far, even if nothing monetary has come of it.
I'll let you know how it goes.
I've been actually seeing signs of it for a while. These days, I've been referring to it as ageism, but I'm not certain that's accurate. I just know that I have been making the same random jokes with strangers since I was 17, and only recently does a stranger laugh. Sometimes the joke that I was telling (often in a sarcastic, self-depreciating tone) isn't funny from a 17-year-old but is hilarious from a 30-something.
Observe, one of my favorites:
Scene-- classroom. Poetry class. The Teacher (Ann Olive. SMOKING HOT, OMG) is talking about language and she asks the class, "Wouldn't you rather be referred to as 'beautiful' rather than 'cute'?"
And I didn't miss a beat.
I hollered from the back of the room, "I'd rather not be lied to!"
I was so proud of myself for that one!! My timing was PERFECT! My tone was ON POINT! The unexpectedness of it was sharpened to a fine edge!
BUT! Not only did no one laugh, no one acknowledged it! And I'm thinking I could *probably* get away with such a joke now. Because as a woman, those words appear to come from experience. As a 20-year-old, it seemed like grasping for attention.
I worked just as hard--if not harder--at Seams-Unusual when I was younger and was solely focused on sewing. But as soon as I stopped, I had more attention than I could handle. Strangers were contacting me about wedding dresses like never before. I nearly had a long-term contract with a bellydance company (ooh, I screwed that up so embarrassingly that I pretty much never speak of it...).
I dunno.
Trying to imagine the workforce as somehow being "better" now that I'm older and (when I graduate in 2015 or 16) have a degree.
Trying to tell myself that my parents trust me with money now and I can ask for more to pay some medical bills.
I've been attending a lot more meetings and non-required networking evenings or seminars at my school. I am attending EVERYTHING that I can--even things only tangentially related to my major. I have often found myself to be The Only Artist In The Room, and its a little isolating, but because I'm fuckin FANTASTIC at small talk (the great boobs don't hurt) it gives me something of an edge... as I am the only artist in the room.
Been positive so far, even if nothing monetary has come of it.
I'll let you know how it goes.