Dear Readers,
I just read a post on my friend Loren's Facebook page that got me to thinkin'. What makes a person a man or a woman? When do we stop being "boys and girls" and work our way up to the top of the ladder? Is it age? Experience? Knowledge?
Coincidentally, these questions come to mind on the same day that Shay and I talked to a bank about buying a home. We don't have a particular home in mind, but we've considered looking because the market is so good and thought we would see what we would qualify for. Here's what I learned: buying a home is a nauseatingly grown up thing to do. I'm sure if the bank just interviewed us as normal human beings, we would be approved for just about any house we wanted on charm and savvy alone. Mucking up said interview with credit scores, income, taxes, etc. etc. makes it a bit more difficult though.
So do you determine whether you're a man or a woman by credit score? I imagine real adults have credit scores surpassing 900.
Remember when graduating from college seemed like such a big deal? What about getting your driver's license? I suppose you could use milestones like these to determine when you step into adulthood as well. Perhaps it's when you realize that you can't do whatever you want, or be whoever you want to be, and realize that they were kind of lying to you as a kid when they said your potential is endless. Because honestly, it has to stop at some point! Don't get me wrong, I think my potential by far surpasses being a resident manager, that's not to say that I can call up NASA and tell them I'm joining the space program tomorrow, does it?
For me, the answer to the question at hand really depends on the day. There are some days I'm a woman, where I am an outstanding adult making healthy grownup decisions and eating broccoli on purpose. But there are other days that I am around 16 years old, where I want to hole up in my best friend's basement (that would be you, Monica), dip a giant spoon first in peanut butter and next in M&M's and watch Mystery Science Theater 3000 all day.
After speaking to the banker today, tomorrow will be best spent in Monica's basement.
Sincerely,
h.
I'll meet you there. I've got some new MST3Ks that you would appreciate. Oh and a new recipe for chocolate sugar cookies that you need to try. YUM.
ReplyDeleteI just saw a film this morning that had a scene about this question. Have you seen "Lars and The Real Girl"? If not, you should! It's great.
ReplyDeleteSo, the scene.
Lars asks his brother Gus, "How'd you know that you were a man?" After a little avoidance, Gus finally answers.
Gus: Well, it's not like you're one thing or the other, okay? There's still a kid inside but you grow up when you decide to do right, okay, and not what's right for you, what's right for everybody, even when it hurts.
Lars: Okay, like what?
Gus: Like, you know, like, you don't jerk people around, you know, and you don't cheat on your woman, and you take care of your family, you know, and you admit when you're wrong, or you try to, anyways. That's all I can think of, you know - it sound like it's easy and for some reason it's not.