Nothing says you're getting older like going to high school graduation parties for kids you used to baby-sit. Seeing young adults now who I used to bottle feed and change their diapers headed off to Harvard, UCLA and into the Marines. I don't usually have a problem with the fact that I am getting older, nor did I ever used to think about it all that much until just recently.

I can't say I know exactly what it was that triggered this 'getting older' kind-of fear, but it seems to have stuck with me, and of course recently it has been quite apparent as I got another graduation announcement in the mail yesterday.

I suppose on occasion throughout the years, I have been somewhat aware of my age. Like when I traded my Big Wheels for a big girls bike, Velcro sneakers to tied tennis, replacing Mac and Cheese for Manicotti, and finally, leaving home for a less adequate, more miniature-like, unfortunate living quarters.

Other than that, birthdays just seem to pass and the only thought I have is what kind of fun party my family would have for me and where we'd all go for dinner. And, what adventurous party my friends would throw, with all of us betting dollars on which one of my girlfriends will drink too much of her favorite pineapple Martini, and which one we'll all have to carry out of the bars by the end of the night.

Everyone reassures me with a sort-of annoyed, yet dumbfounded voice that I shouldn't worry, "you're not old, so stop thinking about it," or "wait till' you get to our age and then you have something real to cry about." And of course my favorite, "I don't even want to hear about it, age is the least of your problems, and you will have plenty of time to worry about it later..."

I know what you are all thinking right now as you read this- why is she even worried about her age, she's only 26 years old! I know, I hear you, but I must confess, getting older does scare me a bit because I am beginning to see that I'm not able to do things as easily as I use to be able to do as a kid. Plus, it could be because my 10-year high school reunion is coming up rather quickly and at that point I can say I have been out of high school for a decade.

I think everyone realizes that they're getting older at one point or another in their life, like when one box of a dozen candles no longer cuts it, when you realize over-the-hill somehow means you will now be primarily in a descending motion. It really hits home when you realize your childhood years growing up are now being printed in the latest history book your 9-year-old neighbor is reading for her 4 th grade class, and the songs you use to sing to on the radio all now have a special allotted time spot for what they call 'back-in-the-day' music.

I think once one hit's this point in their life; the idea of getting older is a constant reminder. The thought of your age parks itself right before 'did I feed the cat this morning,' and 'I'd better get milk on the way home today.'

William Shakespeare once wrote, "the golden age is before us, not behind us." My dad seems to think the same way and embraces age. He never really complains much or talks about it. I believe he actually thinks of getting older as adding more privileges to one's life - like the portions on the senior menus at Village Inn and IHOP are in fact just a perfect size, and AARP is actually a pretty good read.