Exhibit A
Yep, that was yours truly about 4 years ago. While I cannot claim to actually remember taking this photo, I do know it was one of the best times of my life ever!
How is that possible!!! How can I look back with such nostalgia on a period of my life where I made just enough money to pay for rent and Ramon Noodles. I drank alcohol and partied what seems like every night and still looked fantastic. The most pressing issue of the day was how come "he" didn't text me back!?
The cafe/restaurant where I currently work turns into a full on bar at night. I see young girls in their teeny tiny dresses and high heels dancing and flirting and I find myself jealous! This is what really gets me....ummm HELLO I'm only 24! I am fully allowed to do this too. I'm young. Why is it then that I have this complex that I should only go to swanky lounges or dive bars? I mean I do like those places and I LOVE being able to wear converse into a bar, but sometimes a girl just wants to feel sexy! I suppose it's because I'm in a relationship...after all isn't that the reason for wearing the tiny dresses in the first place?
Speaking of teeny tiny dresses, here's another gem from my past. I believe my dress was so short I brought a glue stick in my purse to ensure it stayed perfectly in place. After a few cocktails apparently I needed it.
Anyway, my point is...what changes? Why if I'm still young do I feel like I no longer belong in that circle? Is it being in a relationship? Is it the reality of just having more responsibility? These are questions I am determined to get to the bottom of.
Last night I had a very fancy dinner with my friend Courtney. We had a bottle of wine and a chef tasting. It was all very adult and proper. Yet, the topic of our conversation drifted to being young and reckless. I'm so torn. While one part of me wants to have wine, conversation, and dinner parties...the other part of me wants mini-skirts, 2 for 1 deals, and harmless flirting.
Hmmm, quite the pickle I'm in. Will this feeling pass? Courtney and I have decided to put these feelings to the test. We are going out on the town! Let me know your opinions on this...how old is too old? When is it time to hang up the mini party dress or play your last game of flipcup?
You don't want to be the cougar dancing on the bar in Forever21 clothes that are clearly meant for preteens. But 24 is sooo young, It's hard sometimes to realize how young it is when you are forced to grow up when you are involved in a long term relationship/commitment. I also think living in Los Angeles, a city based around ageism also adds a factor.
ReplyDeleteAs of yesterday I decided...
I'm 24 and I'm ready to have fun!
You're never too old to go out, have a good time, and do your thing! I struggle with this, too. I'm 24, recently married and vascillating between going out to bars with my hubby or growing up/starting a family with him. Eek! One weekend we'll play the mature role and the next we're off at some dive bar again- drinking with the best of them! I think a nice balance between the two is a good place to start. :)
ReplyDeleteI say find a happy medium. Go out with your girls on Friday and go wine tasting on Sunday. No one expects you to become an insta-adult overnight!
ReplyDeleteI love this post. My hubby and I were HUGE party people in college (I have some similar photos in my stash haha). We're 27 now and we find ourselves saying "hmm, maybe we're too old for this" and I HATE it. And then we do things like drink fancy wine at restaurants and we find ourselves saying "we're too young for this". It's weird. Maybe part of me misses college, but I definitely don't like feeling super grown up.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion what really defines a grown up is not the places you go to or the clothes you wear of course there is a time and a place for everything for example I use halloween as an excuse to dress w very lil clothes lol! I honestly think that is the way you live your life and the level of responsibility you have in everything you do. At 24 u are def too young to hang up your mini skirts but at the same time do and always wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and good about yourself now let me just tell you the crowd that you will attract w the skimpy outfits is not the one you need in your life. Take it from me I'm 32.
ReplyDeleteThe clothes you wear and the nightly activities you participate in, do not define who you are or even your age. Yes, the hangovers get worse than they did in college, but I do not see any harm in the game of beer pong or flip cup. I know I joined an adult kickball league to participate in these activities. I find it doesn't matter what your age is when participating in these activities, but by the responsibilities you have to uphold. If you have no children, work, wife, partner, or whatever responsibility to take care of, why not enjoy life. Being an adult doesn't mean you have to constantly partake in adult activities. If this was true what would be the point of life? Remember the Toys R Us song, "I never wanna grow up I'm a Toys R Us kid" I think this ruined our generation because it made us never want to be adults. Just because you leave adolescence and into adulthood doesn't mean your social life should drastically suffer.
ReplyDeleteyou are never too old to play flip cup or go out on the town, simply put. Sure the outfits might change a little but there is no reason to not have a girls night or go out and enjoy life. Im 27 and still party in a college town many nights a week. I have been around the country and out of the country partying with kids a lot younger and with adults a lot older. I have played beer pong with 60 year olds and sat around drinking wine at a dinner party with 21 year olds.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how old you are it never means you cant have a throw back night and get a little crazy.
I think the being single versus in a relationship thing is the biggest factor - at least for me.
ReplyDeleteBack in my college days, I was the life of the party. I was the guy who people came up to in class saying that they couldn't believe "I did 'that". Not only did I not know "what" they were referring to, but I didn't even remember "who" they were. Bruises, facial permanent marker, and confetti in my underpants was a weekly occurrence.
And then I fell into a relationship and had the fun sucked out of me faster than you can say "date night".
I'm recently back onto the other side, and haven't quite figured out where the appropriate level of post-college fun is, but I do anticipate underpants confetti in my near future.
Great post.
Oh....I remember Flipcup!!! I used to love that game. Then I grew up, got in a serious relationship, and those kind of nights just got to be fewer and farther between. And I'm like you...I think, "Hey, I'm only 27, I can still go out and have fun!" But, for some reason I never do. I just sit around, feel old, and wish I did interesting things.
ReplyDeleteIt happened to me when I turned 27. Serious midlife crisis. No more strapless dresses, no more short dresses. Now everything in my closet is what I would call "classy." But once a year I escape to Vegas with my girls and slut it up because we all deserve to every once and a while :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's because those bars are full of barely-21 people. I'm 22 and still like to go to some of those bars, but more often then not I'd rather go to a pub-like place.
ReplyDeleteI think the older we get the less fun the bar scene is because everyone's so immature there. It's the same feeling of going to a "club" for people under 21--it's not that fun.
You are never too old to play flip-cup. Wearing mini-skirts that show your pachanga and give the whole bar a crotch shot that only your gyno (and possibly boyfriend) sees is another story. But you can still be classy sexy. Show cleav, cover leg... Cover boob, show leg. And harmless flirting never goes out of style.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think all of us grow through this once we start to get into our mid twenties. It's even worse when you still want to do things you did when you were 18 from time to time but your significant other is completely over that stuff.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post. I hope to read more like this.
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