Holy crap!  Since when is 29 old?!?!  I was doing totally fine with my last twenty-something birthday being this Saturday.  I have actually only been against turning 29 because it sounds fake.  That's the age everyone says when they're really 34 but not at all comfortable with it.  I'd almost rather just be 30-- at least people would believe me when I said my age.
    I've even been indulging in a little birthday shopping (if that's what you call it when you splurge on a $3 sweater, $5 shoes and a $7 purse).  I was showing E my new acquisitions this evening and was particularly excited to show him the awesome deal on some trendy shoes I'd been wanting: some very 1980s inspired pink and black high tops.  I was so thrilled to be able to indulge this urge at a staggering 90% discount when E cut in with this atomic nugget:  
    "Are you having a midlife crisis or something?"
Excuse me?  Baking powder?  I'm only twentyfrakkingeight years old!!!  Are we expecting an early death or something?!?  Am I really too old for trendy tennis shoes?  I have already given up mini skirts and hiphugger jeans.  Do I really have to wear ballet flats and pearls every day now?  I have a neon pink stripe in my hair, for goodness' sake!  I like to be funky and have fun!  I thought I had ages before I had to worry about being old!
    But now that he mentioned it, I'm afraid to wear my new shoes.  Maybe I'm just in denial.  Maybe everyone is looking at me with my young punkish style and whispering behind my back...
    Wait a minute.  How is that any different than the rest of my life?  Since when do I care what anyone thinks?  I'm wearing the shoes tomorrow.

CL