Adult swim. And play, and joke and (sometimes) work

By Karen Wennberg

April 17, 2008

Having recently attained quartercentury status, I've been doing some agonizingthinking about grownuphood.  It once was a scary unknown place that us care-free adolescents would look at from afar and be damned if we weren't dragged kicking and screaming through the upcoming years into that "real" world.
So now after my very few years of claiming to be “adult”, I have come to an amusing and rather simple conclusion:

Adult = More or less, an oversized and age-experienced child.
(Usually) have more extensive vocabulary and (most of the time) more sexual and moral promiscuity than their younger counterparts.

We’re just oversized versions of our child selves, with more years to blame things on and more responsibilites to keep us busy. I don't really mind it myself, though there are plenty of adults out there taking themselves way too seriously and that's no fun at all. Eat a piece of candy, run after a bunny, stare at the clouds and grow a sense of humor, jerks!

Most times I find this humorous. Emotions, actions, habits... I’ve really seen no change from childhood to adulthood in most people. In a positive light we get to retain, if we choose, the best parts of our past mannerisms: silly, hopeful, playful, creative, open minded.  When I see older people out at the bar having too good of a time, or dressing too young, or getting tattoos that sends me the message that *I* won't get too old to do all that fun stuff. I get to act myself and keep this mindset of age 21 til __? Man what a relief that was to find out!  Nothing dictates that I have to morph into a cranky old curmudgeon whose only interests involve keeping volume as low as possible in the surrounding one mile radius of my house, and maybe Wheel of Fortune. HA!! And if anyone starts telling you to act your age, just pretend your hearing is going bad and start complaining about a knee cramp.  

So, being an adult really isn’t that bad if you’re still a child at heart.  That impressive man in the suit?  Probably still reads comics and watches cartoons.  Your prim and proper boss?  Stays out partying til 2 on saturday.  My dad admitted to me last time I saw him that he “finally turned 21”.  I wonder how many people actually reach a mental age past 45?  I don’t even want to know what’s left to think about at that point beyond maybe fiberous cereals, bird watching and tv soaps.

Now that I've adopted this delusionoutlook, it's helped me deal better with daily society.  When I feel like leaving the house.  KIDDING.   

So what childult pleasures are you guilty of? Paintball? Extreme pogo stick? 4 wheeling? Blowing bubbles (at weddings)? Pizza party sleepovers? Video game marathons? Pony rides?  I know I'll always like comics and cartoons and shiny glittery things and jumping up and down with excitement when I find out we're going for ice cream. 

 

The only word of warning I give to you tender new adultlings is: learn to balance out work and play because sadly, in adulthood there has to be one to have the other. Be child-like, not man-childish.  When you throw a temper-tantrum in the store, no mommy is going to take pity on you.  Been playing WoW for 52 hours straight and now you've lost your job?  For gods sake remember where the money comes from to FUND your gaming habits.  And remember you're being looked up to, so act your age... but only when people are looking.  

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