I was so much older then...

This is the scene at my house last night. Two eighteen year old boys (a cousin of G and pal) who arrived on our doorstep two days ago, unannounced. Well that's not true. We did get a call the previous night saying they were re-directing their journey to NYC after being detained and ultimately denied entry into Canada for reasons I cannot disclose. Did I mention they are driving cross-country (from Austin) to attend a Phish concert in Maine tomorrow? Phish?

As you can see they are jamming, Phish tunes of course, and there is tie-dye. And Berkenstocks. And white boy dreads. I made them hide the beer so I could send the pictures of their stay to their mom. Yes I gave them the beer since, well, let's just say I'm cool like that.

You know what makes you feel the most like an old lady when you spend two days with eighteen year old boys? Because you'd think it would be the clothes (my parents were wearing almost forty years ago) or the music, or the newness of the world for them, the 'wow, that's soo cool' attitude they sport like a lucky charm; no, it's the urinating. Teenage boys never have to urinate. Like never. I spent two days trolling around Manhattan hopping from coffee-house to fast-food joint to use 'the facilities' while these lads patiently waited outside. They didn't go once. All day. Each day. I finally understand why my Grandparents were constantly haranguing me with, "are you suuuure you don't need to use the washroom?" whenever we traveled. They weren't afraid I'd wet myself. They were jealous of my ability to sit in a car for seven hours and not have to go. I get it now granddad, it makes you feel hell-old. I know I'm old enough that driving across the country to go camping at a music festival with a hundred-thousand other youngsters sounds like utter torture to me (even if it wasn't Phish), or that simply having a beer is no longer a thrill in itself, but I had no idea how much of my life is consumed with being near a toilet.

Posted by Antigeist at August 1, 2003 12:39 PM