xakara

When you're a 5'3" (and 3/4 I might add) woman of color who doesn't take anyone's crap it can be hard to reconcile being considered cute. It can make you down right testy. Fortunately, around the time I fully acquired my Zen-Vibe, I made peace with the gods of Cute and fully accepted the gift they bestowed upon me (and babies and puppies to boot). But along with gifts from the gods of Cute, I've been blessed by the gods of Youth.

I've had telemarketers ask me if an adult was home, and had co-workers demand my ID upon learning my age. It's flattering and with my mom and grandma as indicators, it's something that's going to last. But I have to admit that I've always felt others were exaggerating. It's hard to look at my face, knowing my own age, and not "see" it as obvious. Well, I now surrender to the gods of Youth and proclaim that it shall be sometime before I get to bask in the authoritarian air of age, and I'm okay with that. What brought about this new peace? I'll tell you.

After a very busy and stressed day, it was a relaxing thought to sit in silence on the bus stop with a small hot chocolate and sugar cookie from the bookstore. Turned out that it wasn't so silent. A (very) young couple and their three kids were there waiting for another bus. After much detail sharing (and the sharing of the sprinkle-covered sugar cookie with all three children), my conversation with the eldest child (6) went like this.

Child: "Are you getting on our bus?"
Me: "I don't know. Do you know which bus you're getting on."
Child. "The next one that's coming. Is your bus coming soon?"
Me: "I hope so, I'm tired."
Child: "Are you going home now?"
Me: "Yep, I've been at work aaalll day. It's time to go home."
Child: "You were at work? For real?" Whispered in wonder. "Wow. I didn't know you were a grown-up."

When your 6 practically everybody over 12 is a grown-up. In the face of that what can you do but make peace and move on. And how lucky am I that peace was delivered with the most hilarious comment I've heard in who knows how long? Yay for peace!

"Yes, I really Am A Grow-Up" Ramble Done

~X

P.S. My mom is doing MUCH better and may even be able to go home on Thursday if all stays well. Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers.