A friend of mine got married a few weeks ago.
Not a big deal, I know, but it feels like a big deal, because we were kids together.
Not 'kids' like we were young and grew up together. I mean, we were young when we met, but 18 or 19. Not that young. We were kids together in the sense that we were emotionally stunted outcasts rejecting the normal trappings of growing up together. We were weirdos together.
And now so many of us are getting little bits and pieces of normal, and it warms my heart. We are having children, and successful careers, emotional growth and meaningful relationships. We are still ourselves, but there is something so optimistic and hopefully about seeing the people who were so weird with you, who saw you when you were your most outlandish and nonconforming, and went along with you for the ride, finally find their acceptable bits of whatever version of happiness and dream life suits them.
It makes it all seem possible, without immense compromise. Like I can do it, too, with just a bit of maturity and patience.
The people about ten years younger than me are going through this strange phase, where everyone is getting married and having babies as they begin to exit their late twenties, and I really never experienced that. I mean, there were a lot of weddings, I suppose in the years that bookended my thirtieth birthday, but nothing on the scale I am watching others experience. I am sure part of it is grad school, but I also feel like the misfits I clung to and came up with needed a bit more time to settle down. And now that they are doing it, it is coming in such interesting and exciting packages.
I'll be frank and say there are not many things that inspire optimism in my these days, especially in the realm of romance and love. But this does. This makes me feel like doodling hearts on note paper, makes me feel like there's still time for anyone willing to make an honest go of it.
Even me, maybe.
