Past My Prime

I just moved back in with my parents and started going to the single's ward here. From what I remember from the last time I tried the single's ward a couple of summers ago pretty much everyone there seemed to be in their mid forties (at least to an 18 year old it seemed that way.)

There were however, some fairly normal people the last time I went to the single's ward. They were just in town for the summer and looking for a fling. Some friends and I started talking to these 21-22 year old guys and seemed to get along pretty well for a while, until they asked us how old we were. When we told them we were 18 (which we were at the time) the reply was, "Oh, really? Wow. (pause) Well, hey, I just remembered that I have to be home for something right now, so... bye." And they left immediately.

On the other hand once your 21st birthday hits and people find out, the first question is where you are going on your mission. When you tell them you're not going on a mission right now they ask you when you are getting married. When you tell them you're single, the reply is, "Ohh. . . well then what ARE you doing?" with a look like they just found out you are an ex-convict. Now, if you say you are working on your master's or joining the peace corps to save orphans or something like that the look will fade a little bit from shock and horror to a look of mild relief. They will then reply in a non-intentionally patronizing tone, "Oh that's great! Good for you!" like they are happy you joined AA to get help for your problems and flash their diamond engagement ring as they wave goodbye.

And that's only at 21. I'm 22 now, which is absolutely beyond redemption. So you're in your prime for 2 years. Nineteen and twenty. After that, you're hopeless. Is it just me or does that seem like a little too short a period of time? Too bad I spent that whole time dating a guy who eventually dumped me because he thought I was too fat.

Maybe I can "do something good with my life" by giving motivational speeches to teenage girls with low self-esteem about how inner beauty is more important and tell them all that they will find a guy who feels that way too someday. Sure there's not a lot of money in that sort of career, but at the end of those sort of conferences they almost always feed you cake.