be mistaken for a high school student

on my way home from work on friday, i was overcome by the random need to get more holes in my ears.

stopping at the appropriate establishment, i was all “hey, could i get my ears pierced?” and both of the women looked at me like i had five heads and said something like “uh…. you can’t do that without at least one of your parents present.” when i brandished my driver’s license (and thanked them for thinking i was at least five years younger than i really am), they spent the next two minutes freaking out because they couldn’t believe i’m 23. it’s still a nice feeling, and i’m really happy that i’ll look 25 when the big 3-0 finally worms its way into my life.

this happened twice in one week, both at the same high school.

—i went to cover the winter drama and, while looking for the auditorium where they were holding dress rehearsals, someone came up to me and asked if i was a new student.

—that friday, while observing a class where a vietnam vet was speaking, the veteran was shocked that i was in the class as part of my job, not because i was a student.

so it’s good to know that, five and a half years after i graduated from high school, i can still pass for an 18-year-old girl. this bodes well for my thirties.