Thoughts on being 24 and feeling old.

One of my best friends from high school just had a daughter. There have been other people in my life who have had kids, and I have friends with kids now, but this is the first child that I actually feel like I have an interest or obligation to. And it's strange. My friend and I have been apart for nearly 5 years, only seeing each other sporadically, and keeping in touch through e-mail and phone calls. In my mind and memories, she's still the same girl who obsessed over NSYNC, gave me my first cigarette, and went through countless schools, jobs and homes, going through life at what seemed to me, in my stable college and professional existence, a chaotic and exciting way. Now she's a mother, and it will be interesting to see how that takes with her. I don't think we can know how anyone will react to such a dramatic change in life, even though she's had 9 months to prepare. Luckily, in a strange turn of luck, Tara and I will be passing through where she lives now next week, and we'll get to see her and her new family. I'm sure it will raise even more strange feelings in me, as I'm suddenly very aware of being 24, married, having the same job for over a year, and not feeling even remotely ready to raise children. huh.

-ed