We Are No Longer Kids Playing in the Sandbox

Old friends, new stories. I've been out of touch with most people back home. Who's going out with who, who's moving where, what's happening where... it just gets harder and harder to touch base these days. I just found out that another girl from my highschool has a 2 month old son. The sad thing is, I wasn't as shocked as I should be. Instead, it started to sink in more that I'm getting old. Where have the good old days gone, when Trapper Keepers were deemed cool and gushing over boy bands wasn't met with ridicule? Where are the days when MTV played more music videos than reality shows, and sleepovers were the most rebelious thing you could do with your girl bestfriends?

When I...
* Left for New York City at 18. Filed my first tax return. Studied abroad in London at age 12. Finally did my own laundry. Learned to drive a car. Played the piano in front of hundreds of people. First wore a suit. Brought a car to school. Made my first complete meal. Joined a singing competition in 3rd grade. Got my first paycheck. Endured my first job interview. Looked for my own apartment. Tutored little kids. Could no longer rely on my mom to look after me when I'm sick. Stood up for decisions I made. Directed my first play. Realized my capabilities. Adviced others. Accepted my faults. Controlled my wants for the sake of my friends. Held myself accountable for things. Acknowledged all the blessings I have....I grew up.

But hey... I still don't know how to ride a bike or build the perfect paper airplane. I want to run around the sprinkler in the summer and create masterpieces using Play Doh. I want to go on Easter Egg hunts and get excited about Chucky Cheese. Life's gotten a lot more complicated, but I still want to be childlike, but not childish. In times when I feel like I can't hold it down anymore, it helps to think that I'm just human and the learning never stops. We never cease to grow up... because if we do, what else would mistakes and challenges be for, if not for the sole purpose of making us stronger people in the end?

As I look at the blisters on my hand for having to carry my work laptop bag with me everywhere, it hit me that I am officially a working girl now. And quite frankly, I miss being a kid again.