So what do you do? Sit around and look like your teenage stereotype as you text your life away? Stand by that communal chip bowl for an hour, eating one chip at a time, waiting for God to send someone your age to the gathering? Maybe wander from group to group, smiling and nodding, hoping no one thinks you're a total creep?
I have tried all of these, and I can tell you that they only make you look way weirder than you'd like to look. In other words, if I had an answer, I would have already told you. But at least you can finally know you aren't alone.
Not only do we newly adult people have the problem of figuring out who to hang around during these gatherings, but we always have that one crazy family member who refuses to accept the fact that you are, a very real adult and always asks too many questions. For the sake of not being hunted down, we're going to call my crazy family member Francesca, because, who doesn't love the name Francesca? Anyways, a few years ago, junior year as I recall, during our annual Christmas gathering, it was my turn to open up a present. This one was from Francesca, and by the giant grin she had on her face, I could tell she couldn't wait to see my reaction. Since I'm always a person who is cautiously optimistic, I was hoping it was a fancy sweater or a million dollars or something great along those lines. I open the present, and Francesca starts clapping.
It was a Team Jacob shirt. As in the Twilight kind.
1. I was 17. Back in 8th grade, I was obsessed with the whole Twilight thing (the age where it's okay to be weirdly into certain trends), so this was totally irrelevant.
2. She picked the wrong team.
In front of my whole family (that means all of my guy family members too) and she starts talking about how attractive Taylor Lautner is, and then she says, "Oh wait, there's more, look!"
I look.
A New moon Yearly Calendar.
Just... Why.
So naturally, as the person with the pasty complexion, my face blows up red, as she points out how great Twilight is for me. Five seconds later, the whole family is laughing because my face was morphing into deeper shades of crimson, to the point where, in the dim lighting of the room, was still noticeable. This of course brings on the "Hey look she's blushing because there's a shirtless guy on that page!". Lord have mercy.
As for those awkward moments when you get asked the same few irritating questions that only a college-aged person gets asked, that never helps the whole, "I have no idea what I'm doing with my life" situation. I wish I could just say what I'm thinking in those situations, but I'm not exactly what you'd call courageous. But if I could respond in the way that I really wanted, this is probably what it would look like.
"So, do you have a job?"
...I'm pretty sure i would have told you if that status changed, considering you ask me that every other day, and there's nothing I want more than you to shut up and leave.
"What are you going to school for?"
...Not for money, if that's what you're asking. I'll probably be in debt the rest of my life.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" (Francesca's favorite question)
...No, I don't. In fact, I have two. One for at home and one at school. Just don't tell mom.
I'm sure there are countless other questions that I'm forgetting, but we can save that for it's very own post if I remember some more down the road. It's only 11am, give me a break.
Love Always,
Amber <3
No comments:
Post a Comment