Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Tuesday, October 15

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Robyn / January 30, 2011 11:33 PM

When a classmate of mine talked about how difficult it was to experience 9/11...she was in SEVENTH GRADE. I was in my first post-college job.

It's not that getting older is bad, just that dealing with younger folks can be a mind-blower.

mike / January 31, 2011 1:25 AM

I'm 38. The recent 25th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Challenger made me feel old. My girlfriend is a high school teacher and her stories about her freshmen make me feel pretty damn old ... cell phones and the internet have been around their entire lives.

shechemist / January 31, 2011 6:11 AM

...you have outlived your parents.

JP / January 31, 2011 10:13 AM

At work, someone disparaged a piece of equipment by comparing it to a Yugo. A young coworker of mine didn't know what that was, and suddenly I was thrust into the role of the sage older coworker when I explained: "a Yugo is a really crappy eastern European car, and if you compare something to it, you're saying that thing is crappy too." I never thought the Yugo would be a cultural touchstone for people of a "certain age," but there it is.

Bob / January 31, 2011 10:16 AM

I younger coworker of mine had no idea who Glenn Campbell was.

Etihad Eidos / January 31, 2011 10:39 AM

My younger cousin was visiting. He was looking at some of my music. He sees the cover of the "Lovesexy" album. He asks me, 'who is this?' I tell him it's Prince. He replies, 'Oh yeah, that guy.'

Cheryl / January 31, 2011 11:41 AM

Students pursuing a postgraduate education can make you feel old too. People in their early 20s don't know what a busy signal is. They've never heard one, or possibly it's been so long since phones either have call waiting or drop you into voicemail when the phone is busy that they have forgotten them.

Meems / January 31, 2011 12:58 PM

When your idea of a fun Saturday night is going to an AA meeting.

Mucky Fingers / January 31, 2011 1:13 PM

You prefer hardware stores to record stores. You're wearing suits for funerals instead of weddings. You realize that going grey & bald isn't so bad. Your 40th birthday is coming around the corner, and you're so glad to be here.

Mom / January 31, 2011 7:35 PM

Your children have never heard of The Brady Bunch.

eee / February 1, 2011 9:16 AM

You get into deep conversations with your friends about the pros and cons of different kitchen appliance brands.

ggg / February 1, 2011 11:21 AM

When you knit on the bus it looks age-appropriate instead of hip and quirky.

Susan / February 1, 2011 12:37 PM

When you admit to yourself that Granny-panties are downright comfortable, and provide a welcome bit of insulation on a cold winter's day.

Amanda / February 1, 2011 1:54 PM

When you are some of the same medications as your parents.

Cval / February 1, 2011 5:32 PM

You increasingly listen to the so-called dusty radio station and everything is a jam to you...

Spook / February 1, 2011 8:22 PM

You keep misplacing the !*&#$@ Tardis!

sdowns / February 1, 2011 9:59 PM

you look at your life and half is gone, and half is (hopefully) still ahead of you

getupmom / February 7, 2011 1:51 PM

When you think more than one Superbowl Ad crossed the line.

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