It's a Blessing and a Curse, but not really a Curse at all

We met my parents in New Jersey this evening for some all you can eat chinese buffet. Around 7 pm, Mr. Anonymous suggested I call the Container Store to see if they were still open while we were waiting for my dad to pocket some of those Chinese cookies he loves (he typically wraps them up in napkins and shoves them in my pocketbook or coat pocket, depending on the season). I call and get Beth.

me: Hi Beth. What are your hours tonight?
Beth: Typically 11 am to 6 pm, but right now we have a College Night going on until 8:30.
me: What's a College Night?
Beth: We sent out invitations to students who are heading off to college to stock up on some dorm room essentials. The lines are long, but you could come if you have a college student.
me: Oh, I'm not a college student anymore.
Beth: But you could come if you have a college student.
me: Right, but I don't have a college student either.
Beth: Ok, but you can come anyway.
me: But I wasn't invited.
Beth: I'm inviting you NOW.

So the four of us head over and I walk up to the guy who is handing out name tags.

guy: What's your name?
me: Adina.
guy: (jots this down on my nametag) And what college are you heading to?
me: Oh, um, Boston University.
guy: (jots this down on my nametag as well) That's a far ways away!
me: Yeah. (pause, as he looks at me for a moment more) I guess I'm sort of nervous about being that far away from home. But I think it'll be a good experience.
guy: (giantly smiling at me) Don't worry honey. You'll do just fine.

And so began my hour long Lie Fest. One Container Store employee said her son was thinking about applying to BU.

me: Oh yeah?
employee: Yep. But he is only a junior. You're going into your freshman year, right?
me: Um, yeah. But I've been on campus. It looks nice.
employee: He is going to visit this fall.
me: I hear the winters are pretty cold. But how bad could it be?

What surprised me most wasn't that I passed for a college student but that people assumed I was heading into my FIRST YEAR of college. I was asked multiple times what I was going to major in. They didn't ask me what do I major in. It was always, What are you planning on majoring in, honey? English, I would respond with a shoulder shrug.

One employee asked me what high school I was from. Another employee asked me what other schools I had considered before choosing BU. Still another employee, I swear an 18 year old boy, made pseudo flirty eyes at me.

Part of me was a little indignant, as in, seriously? I know I look young but there is no way I look like I am 18. No way. But the bigger and better part in me was like (1) HELL YEAH I AM GOING TO AGE SO GRACEFULLY and (2) HELL YEAH I JUST GOT 20% OFF A SWEET LAUNDRY BAG HOLDER.

So, I am going to count this night as a success. Go Adina, you anti-aging beast.