The Older Guy

I recently celebrated my 42nd birthday.  I had to do the math on that because I wasn't really sure.  When you get older, you don't really seem to know how old you are.  I remember when I started teaching meeting the "older" guys in the school and being a little envious of them.  They all seemed to have their stuff together.  They owned homes, had children with full and busy lives, they seemed to be comfortable in their profession and had that wisdom that only age can give you.  I used to look at them and think, I wonder what I will be like when I'm one of the older guys.

Well, here I am and there are sure fire signs that I'm an older guy.  These were not the things I thought I would be thinking about but here is how I am sure that I am one of the older guys now.

I miss the days when hip hop music was not on the radio.  The art is more special when it is not in the mainstream.  Now, you can hear a rap verse on every pop song on the radio and to be honest, it will never be as special as Eric B. and Rakim or Boogie Down Productions.  You had to go look for hip hop back when it was special.

Nobody cared about Lebron's next move back in my day.  I grew up watching Cal Ripken spend his entire career with the Orioles regardless of their level of success.  People compare him to Jordan and Bird, but to me, there is no comparison.  All this moving around for championships, makes an older guy frustrated.

I do enjoy the new super hero movies, however I am critical of little differences.  When you grew up with Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, it is really difficult to watch this new guy.  I am watching these movies closely only to be able to explain what they were like when I was a kid to my kids.  And whats up with all the attempts at Batman and Spiderman movies.  It seems like we could get these right. 

I recently started wearing glasses again.  I don't think I care if I look like an older guy.

What is up with television content?  I cannot get over how much is allowed on television compared to when I was a kid.  I feel like I can't watch anything in prime time with my kids in the room.  I'm always a little anxious about what might come up in the show.  Most shows these days have suggestive language or sexual content in them and I'm talking about network TV.

I love mowing the lawn.  I get super aggravated when it is too long or it takes me a couple extra days to get to it.  That is a sure fire, older guy thing.  The only item missing is a funny hat while I mow.  Not that I am unwilling to wear one, I just haven't found one that I like yet.

I am an older guy now, but its not all bad.  I work in a profession that keeps me current with the kids these days.  When I see them wear a Bob Marley t-shirt, I make them name at least one song by him.  Only one student in the last seven years has done it.  It's fun to make those connections with them.  I have a younger staff and I often wonder if I come across as one of the older guys.  Maybe they look at me the way I always looked at them.  Minus all of the old guy quirks of course.