Just a Number

Is age just a number or a state of mind? The Incredible Aging Man – when I was 22 and just graduated college, I met a guy who was 28… or so I thought. Within weeks, I found out he was 32 (Note: if you’re going to lie about your age, make sure you can figure out what year you’re supposed to be born.) At that point, you would think he’d come clean and admit his real age – turns out he was 34. So in 6 weeks, he aged 6 years (Note #2: don’t leave your high school year book saying “class of 19XX” lying around.)

To a 22 year old, 34 did seem old – but I considered myself a “mature” 22 year old and we dated for 2 years. But it turns out age was just the tip of the iceberg of things he lied about. (Lesson #1: guys who lie about one thing, probably lie about other things as well.)

Now that I’m in my 30’s, I wonder is age just a number or a state of mind? I was surprised to learn that many of my 30-something friends practice the same type of age deception. But while the Incredibly Aging Man was just trying to rob the cradle, are there different reasons for women to lie? Do single women have an expiration date after which they are undatable with too much baggage? Do men fear the tick tock of the biological clock?

Personally, I think I’ve learned a lot of things over the last 33 years. (like lesson #1 learned above.) I would like to believe I’m a better person than I was at 22. I’m definitely more mature and I suppose wisdom comes with age. My paycheck is thankfully much fatter, but admittedly I might be a bit fatter too. But then again how many 22 year olds can say they can run a marathon in sub 3:40? As a 24 year old recently told me, “You’re cute for an older woman.”

At the end of the day, I believe a lie is a lie. Building a relationship based on lies is not a relationship I want to be in. So if a guy’s going to worry about this girl’s 33 years of life, then keep on walking… (and if all else fails, I'm still young enough to pick up a Sugar Daddy, right?)