Birthdays

I just came from a birthday party. Another of my young friend's debut. I was talking to my friend about how strange it is that the birthday celebrant was only turning 18 now, when I had the impression that person was already 19 going on 20. She's in her second year of college and to me she acts older than her age.

I reasoned that this only seemed strange since I grew up in an American school where high school seniors graduate at 18. In the Philippines we lack the middle school years 7 and 8, so high school grads are 16 or 17 when they enter college. I am generally older than most of my peers. You will find a handful of college grads at the young age of 19.

I'm just relieve that I wasn't asked to dance with the birthday celebrant. I'm getting too old for this.