On Saturday night, I was driving back to Kitchener, having spent an hour in Chapters Waterloo, reading a book. On the way to my friend James’ house for the evening, I stopped by the closest liquor store to pick up a couple bottles of wine.
Once inside, I began to feel an incredible sense of my skin trying to crawl off my body…and I wasn’t sure why. However, the more time I spent in the store, the more I realized what was driving me crazy:
(1) this store was the closest liquor store to the universities;
(2) it was Saturday night;
(3) it was packed with students, purchasing six packs, 12-packs, and innumerable bottles of various coloued liquors that I didn’t even recognize!
As I stood in line, watching as these fresh faced young men and women vibrated with energy, I suddenly began to feel as if I had sprouted wrinkles and liver spots all over my body. They all had their drivers licenses ready for I.D. checks…leaving me to lament the fact that I have never been I.D.ed in my life!
I’m quite convinced I was the oldest person in the store, at that very moment (staff included!)…and I was feeling ever day of my nearly 32 years on this planet.
I felt better once I emerged from the store and took a few breaths of cold, sharp night air. But I have to admit…as I got behind the wheel of my car, and gingerly dodged the crowds of energetic youth on my way out of the parking lot…I experienced a sudden, powerful desire to be 21 again…without a care in the world.
With the las two months of my life being as real as it could get, I wouldn’t mind a vacation into the past…if only for a few moments.
