Not Just A Number

Last night I stopped at Sean Bolan's after work.  I hung out for about an hour on my own nursing a beer.  Then Erica showed up, and after that, her friend Jen.  Jen had already been celebrating something elsewhere.  Then, she was up singing and playing guitar for open mic, and she had to be up early for work.  They're 28; I'm 40. 

Since I've been hanginging out with them, I've been thinking maybe age is just a number.  After last night, not so much.  I'd like to say I remember being 28 and doing those same sorts of things.  The truth is the period from when I was 25 to 28 is really kinda one big blur, with the finer details - and also some of the major ones - obfuscated by alcohol.  So, these ladies are doing what they are supposed to be doing at their age.  I'm just not there anymore.

I have learned to either completely eschew or drastically temper my imbibitions...a beer then an iced tea then maybe one more beer for the road, usually not.  I gave up my major league indulgences the first time I woke up the second day after a legendary bender and my head still hurt.  That was about six or seven years ago.  They'll come to learn this, too, but in their own time.

So, of course, that gets me to wondering, and also wanting to spin the gears of self-doubt.  Am I really supposed to be hanging out with these folks?  I mean, they do seem to like me, and I thoroughly enjoy their youthful energy and gusto for life.  And, also, will I ever find a woman who is "on the same page" as me, who possesses the wisdom of experience and also a youthful freedom from too much personal inhibition?  I am learning, as I come to really and truly introduce me to myself, that I'm kind of an odd duck.

Are people supposed to be regementally segregated by social propriety and numerical demographics?  I hope not.  My target age range for a suitable companion is 35-45.  Do I need to amend that?  Should I abandon such restriction altogether?  Hell, my best friend in this whole world is 71.  I've never put much stock into rules that are there just for the sake of establishing authority.  Guess I never will. 

Atlantic City should be interesting!

"It Was A Very Good Year", Frank Sinatra.