Can I help you into your grave there, ma'am?
I'm writing on an article about high school education at the moment and in this context went to visit my old high school yesterday. I have never been back since I finished school and got all emotional as I walked up the familar way from the train station to my old school. Memories came flooding back... what a journey I have been on since I last graced this place with my presence.
For my second interview, I found a smart little 16-year-old girl who specialises in old languages, writes for the school paper (awww- just like I did at her age) and wants to be a lawyer later on. I told her that I myself had gone to this very school. "But that was a long time ago," I said, "I finished in 1998." She looked at me with an air of disbelief and said: "Wow. I wasn't even alive then." For a split second I thought: "Shit. Am I really that old?" But then I laughed. "I think you are getting your times mixed up there, girlie." She was quite embarassed. "I'm sorry. I thought you said 1989."
The fact that she even considered I could have finished school before she was alive did concern me just a tiny little bit. But hey, I guess in her eyes, I probably am borderline ancient.
posted by Bettina at 6:30 PM
17 Comments:
funny you said that. i graduated in 1989 and until i read the second half of your post i was thinking about my high school and how long ago it was. :-) i'm an oldie.
September 14, 2008 at 8:21 AM
I think you should rename yourself "Ancient of Days" ... it must be the previous hairstyle post that's done it Betts. Or the wrinkles. Or the saggy stockings you wore. Or ...
September 14, 2008 at 8:43 AM
i can remember when 20 seemed "ancient" and grown up. it's all relative.
with any luck, one day you may consider 80-year-olds mere kidlets.
meantime, i'm glad i'm not 16 anymore. i'd rather be a leper than be in high school again.
September 14, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Well, you did just turn 30.
September 14, 2008 at 1:28 PM
I've been there. Makes you feel so old...
September 14, 2008 at 7:30 PM
I remember when we said never trust anyone over 30...ouch. I went to my 25th and 40th high school reunions. Bunch of old farts there. My nieces husband teaches at my old high school. He asked me what kind of a student I was...STRAIGHT A's of course. (did I mention that the office caught fire and all early records were destroyed?) PROVE I WASN'T!!! I wonder if any of my teachers are alive? But running into some smart alecky kid who thinks I'm ancient hasn't happened yet. I still command fear...I am glad that you got to go back in time though. Seemed smaller didn't it?
September 14, 2008 at 11:03 PM
god, now i really feel old! i graduated in 1995! haha!
Oh, highschool- the memories. i went to my 10 year reunion and it was all so weird. i didn't really like highschool at all and so the reunion felt odd. lots of people you never really liked or hung out with acting suddenly like you are best friends!! haha!
have a great day, Bettina!
September 15, 2008 at 12:44 AM
Are you really borderline ancient? You should look at me, I am stone- age in comparison.
Es wird scho witergo, chai angst...
September 15, 2008 at 9:02 AM
Let it go, babie!
You must get some sleep sooner or later, anyway ;-)
September 15, 2008 at 6:33 PM
Zuperzee- You're only as old as you feel in your heart, my dear. Sounds corny, I know, but oh so true.
Aggs- Or the wheelchair I was in? Or the hearing aid I has wearing? Or the false teeth?
Sera- Same here. I'm more than happy to be where I am now. People who lament about how they want to be 20 again always kind of freak me out.
Larry- Thanks Larry. Kind of you to point that out.
SJ- Oh well. I would still challenge every 16-year old to a dance off anytime.
Mystic- 40th high school reunion? Now that really is impressive. Actually... I definitely wasn't alive when you finished school. ;-) Not to make you feel bad or anything.
Katie- I think that's what reunions are all about, right? And sweetie, anyone who graduated in 1995 and still looks as hot as you can consider themselves very lucky.
Zee- I'm not really, no. I'm actually just a big child. The girl obviously just didn't recognise that.
Anna-Lys- Sleep? What's that? I can still sleep when I'm old. :-)
September 15, 2008 at 7:19 PM
I try to be kind. Plus, I figured that you actually enjoyed turning 30, which I didn't enjoy when it happened to me. So, it would be okay to point it out. After all, when I was in highschool, 30 was ancient. It WAS twice my age. Now that I am there, I feel as young as I did in highschool. I just wish I were as optimistic.
September 16, 2008 at 2:04 AM
I meant don't hang up on that "accidental experience" ;-)
... when I'm 64 ... la la la
September 16, 2008 at 2:39 AM
some people reach their peak in high school. it's true! it's all downhill from there.
September 16, 2008 at 2:59 AM
you gotta get up on the modern Züridüütsch slang - that will fool them! They'll think you are one of them...
September 16, 2008 at 5:59 AM
Larry- You are kind and I did enjoy turning 30. I was just being silly.
Anna-Lys- I won't.. don't worry.
Sera- Thank God I'm not one of them.
EM- I think that usually ends up being quite ridiculous... We had a teacher in high school you used to do that and it always turned out so wrong. He mixed up the slang at the time with the one ten years ago. Not good.
September 16, 2008 at 6:32 PM
That's so weird. I was just thinking about paying my old highschool and visit and...there was your post.
Coincidence? I think not.
Feels rather like an omen to me :P
September 17, 2008 at 4:38 PM
lol, ancient huh? Like the first commenter i also graduated in '89. You want to talk about feeling old? When i went to visit the school again about 10 years ago and maybe see a few teachers i liked i got a very different reception than i was used to from when i went there. It started as i walked up to the main doors. There was a cop standing there and i assumed maybe he was there to deal with some crime or other that happened on campus but nope. He was there to guard the doors. He gave me the eye the whole way until i reached out to open the door and then he stopped me and i started what came to be a 20 minute ordeal to get the pass to walk the halls and go see my old teachers. This is AFTER school mind you. The school i remembered was gone, replaced by a pseudo prison for children. Complete with metal detectors and cops with guns. The area hasn't turned into a gang ridden slum so seeing this security at my old school seemed a bit excessive. Those changes left me feeling quite old and a product of a different age. (sigh) :)
September 19, 2008 at 9:10 AM
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