The Long Road

11/26/2004 Archived Entry: "Half-a-life?"

So recently I entered an LCBO. This Saturday in fact, to get some good old Di Saronno Amaretto. I was surprisingly 2 for 2 on not being carded in my recent escapades to the LCBO, but I highly doubted to establish a 3 for 3 record. As I approached the cash, I was asked for ID. No surprise at all, really. After having the cashier stare at my card for five seconds he returned it and laughingly commented, "You're going to have trouble for a long time, eh?"

I had no choice but to laugh myself. The statement was truly accurate based on my experiences over the past 5 years. I guess he just made me realize it won't end soon. Although, in terms of my mind set, I'm nowhere near 23. Its odd how the age issue keeps cropping up. Even after you tell people you've started a Master's, they'll still manage to ask, "So, how old are you? 18?" WTF?!?! Did they pay attention to anything I've said?

Now here's the kicker, my main motivation for this post. I walked into EB games this past Sunday and proceeded to the cash to buy Half-life 2. Upon presenting the game, the cashier asked for my ID stating, "You have to be 17 to purchase this game." It didn't occur to me right away, but it took me no more than six seconds to realize, 'This dude here thinks I look 16'. I mean, I can go with the 19, the 18, maybe even the 17. But 16, that's a whole new ballgame altogether. Its almost as bad as re-electing Bush, but worse than having elected him in the first place. In future, I promise to post my newfound sentiments on what it feels like to be 15...:P!

dAN

Replies: 20 comments

i've been on both sides of the fence ... when i was in my final year of university, i would get asked if i was in first year (i.e. was i 18-19) and even when i was travelling last summer, when my friend and i told ppl we were backpacking after graduation they would ask if we had just graduated high school ... now a year and a bit later, ppl seem to think i'm 26-27 - and this isn't always at my own prompting! i've had ppl ask me how old i am and when i say 23, they would say "oh, i thought you were like 27"

it's really quite strange. who knew i could age 8 years over the span of just one year ... i really hope this pattern doesn't continue! but still, at least i'm not as bad as the ukrainian guy that aged about 30 years in the span of 4 months - check out this before and after: http://www.thestar.com/images/thestar/img/041124_yushchenko_200.jpg

Posted by melpie @ 11/26/2004 04:01 PM EST

OOH a guest post!! how exciting...
really though I don't seem to get carded naymore, except in Waterloo. I guess in Waterloo they card everyone though. Stupid university towns...

Posted by sbdep @ 11/26/2004 07:23 PM EST

i do get carded in small towns .. but they card everyone there ... if they don't recognize you, that is

Posted by melpie @ 11/26/2004 11:19 PM EST

Remember that time I went over to your place and thought that your little brother was you?

Though that may have more to do with him looking older...or something.

Posted by Rayne @ 11/29/2004 03:13 PM EST

Or taller...he's taller than me now...:P!

Posted by dAN @ 11/29/2004 07:24 PM EST

Don't forget, it was dark too...LOL

Posted by dAN @ 11/29/2004 07:24 PM EST

I fixed the entry, that "poem" format you were going for just wasn't working, dAN.

Posted by Rayne @ 11/29/2004 10:10 PM EST

LOL!!!!!!!!! Sure, accuse me of your poor formatting...:P

Posted by dAN @ 11/29/2004 10:19 PM EST

what lcbo was it?

Posted by felicia @ 12/09/2004 10:55 AM EST

where i should have typed? not that this will make u feel better but i think they card people who look 25 and under not just 19.

Posted by felicia @ 12/09/2004 11:00 AM EST

Oh, I don't mind being carded at the LCBO...I expect to be carded there even in my thirties. Its being carded for the game that threw me off.

Posted by dAN @ 12/09/2004 04:08 PM EST

how embarassing getting carded buying a video game ... heck, i'd be embarassed enough just buying the video game, i wouldn't want more attention brought to it.

Posted by melpie @ 12/09/2004 04:40 PM EST

There's nothing wrong in buying video games...

Posted by Rayne @ 12/09/2004 05:35 PM EST

...or comic books. hehehee

Posted by melpie @ 12/10/2004 10:25 AM EST

To top it off, this Sunday a person thought that my brother and I are twins. There's 9 (nine, neuf, dziewiec, 9 x uno, etc.) years difference between us!!! What is the world coming to?!?

Posted by dAN @ 12/19/2004 02:03 PM EST

I can see how that mistake was made =P

Posted by Rayne @ 12/19/2004 03:42 PM EST

does it make you feel better that someone's thought my mom was my sister before? she's 30 years older than me ... :S

Posted by melpie @ 12/19/2004 10:55 PM EST

Wow, melpie's old looking.

Posted by Rayne @ 12/20/2004 12:55 AM EST

I've had people think my mom is my sister too.

Posted by dAN @ 12/20/2004 09:37 AM EST

i'm not that old looking! am i? AM I?!?

Posted by melpie @ 12/20/2004 11:19 AM EST