I'm down to only about 2 days before my 23rd birthday (it's on December 5th). Looking back, I remember the memories of when I was 16, and how I didn't want to turn 17, due to a high school self-image of being young, yet old enough to be "cool". I remember when I turned 18 that I didn't want to turn 19, because to me, being 18 made me an adult, or so I thought. I remember when I was 19 that I didn't want to turn 20, because getting out of the teens meant that I was starting to age. But after 21, everything started to mellow down, really. I stopped really caring too much about my age, except that special mention was that at 22, I was just as old as GTO. And to think I had dreams of becoming a teacher.

Now that I'm turning 23, I can't say I feel any different than I did one or two years ago. I can't even say that I'm more mature or whatnot. Maybe I'm still fantasizing that I don't have to grow up. To be honest, I'm supposed to get out of Jzone (which is really for high school and college age) now, and move on to the Singles. I'm very hesitant to do so, because I'm convinced that if I do so, I'd be undoubtedly considered an adult.

But why is the idea so dreadful to me? When I think of it even now, I don't really know. When you're young, you spend all your time trying to grow up as fast as you can. You even add fractions to your age, like being eight-and-five-sevenths, to make you always seem older.

I wonder how older people than me feel. Even now, I can look back to ten or fifteen years ago, and remember them like it was yesterday. My age becomes even more obvious, as some of the people I converse with weren't even born yet (or were still in diapers) 15 years ago. Meanwhile I bask in the nostalgia of all the events that rush through my head as I think about certain years. For example, I loved the year 1996, as it was one of the most memorable summers of my life. I remember the Gulf War in the early 90's. I remember watching the news on CNN and watching the horrible sights of guns illuminating the night sky. I remember thinking that maybe it could happen where I lived.

So much has happened in my life, yet I'm sure, to those older than me, I'm but a child. Life keeps rolling, and you can't stop it unless you die. And even after then, you'll have another life to live. I guess I should stop thinking too much about my age, and the past, and start thinking about the future. I know there's a lot more out there.

Great Teacher Takuya, ni-jyuu san-sai, yoroshiku! D: