What A Difference 10 Years Makes

(Copyright 2009 by Valentine J. Brkich. First printed in the April 2009 edition of The Point North Magazine, Wexford, Pa.)

Over the past few weeks I’ve come to the conclusion that the “me” of just ten years ago would hate the “me” of today. In fact, I think that 24-year-old me would absolutely loathe 34-year-old me and what I’ve become.

This enlightenment came to me a couple weeks back when two of my best friends invited me to accompany them on a little snowboarding getaway to a local mountain resort. The plan was to head up there early on Saturday and snowboard most of the day, while stopping for several breaks at the ski lodge bar. It was a fantastic plan, filled with all kinds of winter fun with two of my closest compadres, and it was one that 24-year-old me would have jumped on.

Thirty-four-year-old me, however, decided to forgo this day of winter revelry and, instead, spend the day at the children’s museum with my wife and daughter. Whilst my friends were out shushing down some icy slope in the Laurel Highlands, stopping for the occasional drink and spying the occasional snow bunny, I was one of what seemed like a thousand parents crammed into the Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood room, chasing my little one around with a video camera. It was a wonderful afternoon that concluded with my exhausted but happy daughter passing out, slumped over in her car seat on the ride home.

Twenty-four-year-old me is just sick hearing me say this.

The funny thing is, although I knew my friends were out having a great time, I was really glad I decided not to go. I gave up a day of adrenaline-pumping outdoor excitement with two of my best buds in order to watch my daughter paint an unrecognizable blob and then try to eat the paintbrush – and I was okay with it (the passing-up-snowboarding-to-go-to-the-museum-part; not my daughter eating a paint brush).

Right now, 24-year-old me is shaking his head at me from the past.

What can I say? My priorities have changed. Twenty-four-year-old me’s priorities were 1) looking for girls, 2) continuing to look for girls, and 3) making enough money bussing tables in order to buy beer for the week.

Thirty-four-year-old me’s priorities, on the other hand, are 1) spending time with my wife and daughter, 2) making enough money to pay the bills and save a little for the future, and 3) making enough money through my writing to buy wine for the week.

Twenty-four-year-old me really hates that I like wine.

Here’s what a typical conversation between 24-year-old me and 34-year-old me would sound like:

Me at 24: Hey, Val, you wanna go to happy hour after work on Friday and look for some girls?

Me at 34: Hey, Val, that sounds fun, but I think I’m just going to stay home, play with my daughter until she goes to sleep, and then maybe have a glass of wine before turning in early.

Me at 24: What?!? Wine?!? Turn in early?!? Didn’t you hear me? I’m talking about girls and beer…and girls!

Me at 34: I heard you. I’d just rather spend a nice quiet evening at home with my wife and daughter. Did you know my daughter can already say her A-B-Cs? She’s really into Elmo now, too.

Me at 24: (blank stare) Uh…okay. You have fun sitting at home then. I’ll be out having a great time and meeting a bunch of girls.

Me at 34: No you won’t. We never had the guts to talk to any girls. Besides, we always felt like crap the next day from drinking too much cheap beer.

Me at 24: I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr. Turn-in-early-wine-drinker.

Me at 34: Yeah, Whatever.

Me at 24: Whatever, yourself!!

Me at 34: Wait…aren’t we the same person?

Me at 24: Huh?

Me at 34: Oh…never mind.

Yes, I’m perfectly happy with 34-year-old me. Sure, 24-year-old me had a lot of spunk and was always up for a good time; then again, 24-year-old me didn’t know what its like to have your baby girl sit on your lap and smile while you read her favorite bedtime story. Too bad. I think 24-year-old me might have really liked it.

Twenty-four-year-old me seriously doubts that.

Valentine J. Brkich is happy to be 34 years old. Visit his website today at www.brkichwriting.com.