wiser...

This weekend brought me to Manhattan to celebrate a family friend's wedding. A part of me enjoys going back so much... I smile at all the places we frequented and the hilarious memories that took place those four years. And a part of me doesn't enjoy it so much. Not all memories are as fun to remember.

Visiting this time reminded me of other things. Like the fact I'm getting old(er). I know this for certain, for a few reasons:

5) I couldn't remember my way around campus when attempting to show Mom the new Leadership Studies Hall. I ended up directing Dad around a dead-end cul-de-sac in the back alleyways. My bad.

4) We after-partied in Aggieville at Kite's. I kept looking for familiar faces like the old days. There were none. And what exactly were those girls wearing?

3) Hmmm... the music must not have been as loud when I was in college. I mean, Dad and I couldn't even hold a conversation over the yelling, shrieking mania.

2) I drank a BudLight. And I will if I have to. But, uh, I prefer to never have to.

1) My brother was first in the door. He got carded. I reached for my wallet, joked with the bouncer that I was old, he looked at me and agreed, and waved me through. Fail. Fail. And fail.

Waking up this morning humbled and without a pounding headache, twisted ankle, or nausea, I remembered it's okay to grow up. And have real conversations on the weekends. And drink a stout from a bottle.

Although next time I'll have my ID ready, so Mr. Bouncer has no choice but to check my date of birth.