23 is the new 50, obvi.

A big realization dawned on me today: I'm not 19 anymore. I mean, I've clearly known that for some time. But it's rather depressing. At 19, you're still young, you still have things to look forward to. When someone who is 27 hits on you, you're allowed to think it's slightly creepy. But at 23, 27 is completely acceeptable. Let me explain why this frightens me. Right now, I still feel I'm too young to even consider the thought of marriage. But at 27, you're staring down your 30's and coming to the point where people start to pity you for not being married. It's a terrifyingly small window between fabulous young woman and old maid in training. So, when someone who is 27 hits on me, I automatically go into a panic. My tendency to imagine the worst goes into overload. What happens if I start dating this guy? What if we fall in love? He's close to the age where men start settling down, what if he proposes? What would I say? No, because I'm still rather young and haven't quite landed on my feet yet? Yes because what if no one else comes along? I'd like to think I wouldn't sa yes for that reason alone, but who knows. And if I do say no, saying I need more time....what if he wants to settle down right away and won't wait? Will I have lost the love of my life because of timing?

These are all such obtuse hypotheticals that it doesn't really matter. I'm nowhere near even dating someone. But still, it's enough to send a girl into a midlife crisis, 27 years too early. Thankfully, my dog doesn't think I'm crazy.