Feeling your age.

Not to make this a bar thread, but I will push my favorite Austin bar that I visited a couple of months ago - the Molotov. It is a great place to hang out.
And, don't start talking about how old you are, try being 26 and covering high school athletes.
Honestly, covering high school kids does make me feel old because I can barely remember high school. I can't believe I am two years from my 10-year reunion. Covering college kids doesn't faze me because we have a job to do and you just do it. It can be intimidating because they are close to my age, but I just remind myself I am at work and my job is to interview them and do a story.
Oh, and fuck the Horns. We all know the refs cheated and USC is the true national champ!

 

Age, young Shooter, is but a number. Although you can now rent a car and not pay extra.

I'm in my early 30s, but we have a young staff. They make me feel like I'm still in my mid-20s, but I have all that knowledge from the past 8-9 years. I'm sage, and I can outdrink the whipper-snappers

Seriously, though, enjoy life. Enjoy having a little more wisdom. And what GQ said about family and friends, take it to heart. He's right.

Happy birthday!

 

Can't agree enough with Glen's first graf (pass on the beer, though). Chronological age isn't as important as how old you feel and how you carry yourself.

A belated happy birthday to you, by the way. Here's to UT -- for everyone who couldn't get into TCU!

 

There are still bullet holes in the concrete, you know. It's kinda freaky to touch the base of that statue by the steps.

I once took an Austin-Dallas-OKC road trip, for fun. Saw the tower, Dealey and Murrah in one day. I'm a little macabre.

 

move on to a college beat or the pros

 

'It's better to look good than to feel good." [/Fernando Lamas]

 

I've had that icky feeling at times. Here, I'll give you a few pick-me-ups.

1. There are 50 year-old-men covering the NFL. That age gap is significantly worse, and they don't feel funny, why should you?

2. What Xan said - you're not there to be a peer of these folks - you're the wise adult journalist doing a job many of them will eventually covet the hell out of. But they won't get that opportunity because they'll be behind a desk working the phones to sell copiers. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Carry yourself knowing this.

3. Regardless of your age, most of the teenaged boys have a crush on you.

(Sorry guys - that one only works for the women.)

 

Covering college sports doesn't bother me in the slightest. I was just observing that it's an odd sensation to realize "Hey! You're a grown up with a real job. Welcome to the real world." That's all. Not bothered, just the odd sensation sometimes.

I won't even respond to your parting comment...  

That is a little macabre. I've seen the tower, but had to pass up on a special tour of the observation deck.  
I have, however, seen the Murrah building site multiple times, the first time four days after the bombing, from across the street at about 11 p.m. As sobering an experience as I've ever had, and I was 13.

Lug, you have made my day.

 

I understand where you're coming from UT. I'm 24 and a SE at small daily and cover preps pretty much 24/7. But, I have a part time job in the winter that I might love more than what I'm doing now. Anyway, that keeps me feeling young. Plus a lot of my friends are a bit younger (20-23) so chilling with them all the time keeps me young, at least I think. I might be 24, but I feel like a 19-year-old.

 

:'(

I haven't ruined my chances with you, have I cadet?

 

Lugnuts' post is perfect. You're a professional, not a peer. Better they respect you for your experience and professionalism than your belly ring and tats.

That said, I think we need a freakin rule around here that no one should have age angst until AT LEAST the age of 30, maybe 35, if at all. You can control just about everything in your life except your age. Don't make it an issue.

 

Dude, I'm just teasing You set that one up on a tee, how could I not? Plus, I just discovered 'fun with the quote function'. It's like a new toy.