Chuck's column: Putting off growing up

Talk about it

There’s a lot I don’t understand about people. I guess that’s just how it all will end some day. Questions never answered. Oh my. Sigh.

Ok. It’s not quite that bleak. However, I was thinking today, and why I was thinking about this is beyond me, but I was. What is it about age that has people so closely guarding their own number from those around them? I remember asking my mother when I was just a kid about neighbors or relatives or teachers and their age. I was reprimanded more than once about asking a person how old they were. If Mom wasn’t around, then the adult would say, “Why do you want to know?”

Well, I would think to myself, cuz I do!

Kids ask me that all the time. I’ve never understood the hang-up. I’m 56. Soon to be 57. Do I like it? Not really. I am not “going gently into that good night,” I can promise you. There are still many remnants of my childhood hanging around.

For example, my students are always amused when I tell them I’m a gamer. For those of you who are REALLY old and don’t understand “gamer,” it’s someone who plays video games. Some people call them “geeks.” I’m not wearing that label!

So, I tell my kids I own an Xbox. And a PS Vita (originally the PSP). Once again, for those of you who don’t know how to spell “video games,” the PS Vita is a hand-held device you can play games on. I tell the students my game of choice for that system is MLB THE SHOW. Baseball. My passion. I play the game from its release in early March through October. At present, I’m playing in the World Series. I bought MADDEN for it in September. Can’t play that ‘til I finish the Series, however. I’m all about finishing one task before moving to the next.

Then, the little known fact that seems to entertain them the most? I tell them I play World of Warcraft. For many of you, that means nothing. Frankly, until I played it, I had only heard of it. However, once it was introduced to me, and I played it a bit, it became rather addictive. I’d play on Saturday nights with four other “adults” in one room with five different computers. I’d share this with my students, and they thought it was “very cool” that I spent weekend nights playing “their” game. I’d go home at day’s end from teaching and I’d have to decide … ”Warcraft or grade essays?” Hmmm. Tough decision, eh?

I’ve always wanted to play. It’s much more fun than growing older. I still love fireworks, parades, fairs, the first snow and Christmas morning. When my kids are working and I look up and one of my students happens to be looking my way, I’ll capture their attention for a moment with a glare as they begin to wonder what the heck’s wrong with him, and then I’ll quickly flash them a cross-eyed, sticking-out-my-tongue look and then return to my work, only to glance up and see the kid chuckling silently to him/herself. They probably think I’m losing it. I can live with that.

I think my mom and dad’s brothers and sisters taught us how to play through life as much as possible. I don’t remember anyone ever taking life too seriously. No one ever sued another person because they were “offended.” I just remembered they laughed a lot. I’d like to think they’d be proud of the adult I haven’t become.

I’m a Toys R Us kid.

I’ll keep trying. One of these days, I might earn my merit badge in maturity.

Maybe.

For now, however, TAG, YOU’RE IT!

Tags: opinion, rosemount, commentaries