Okay, I turned 21 on the 17th. This enabled me to have my first legal drink of alcohol in a bar. Okay.
But it was kind of an anti-climax. As I look back on my life recently, I got married at 16, I've given birth twice. I graduated from high school and have made it to the senior class in college.
I've been shopping, especially grocery shopping (I like doing it) since I got married and signing checks or using the debit card on our joint account. I've potty trained and taught my babies to walk and talk.
I'm now eligible to drink alcohol. And apparently many people my age see this as a rite of passage into adulthood. I don't see it that way. Aren't there other, more important achievements, that can make one a grownup?
I think this may indicate something about the problems in our society. We have our priorities mixed when young people see attaining the legal right to drink as such a big deal.
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Proud parents of our own "Daddy's Little Girls"
I heard Jesus He drank wine and I bet we'd get along just fine.
And, you're absolutely right. There is NOTHING whatsoever that is "grown up" about drinking. Teens see it as a "rite of passage"... "This is what grown ups do, now I'm a grown up, so now I get to do it too..." But, it's more a way for "grown ups" to remain immature and foolish. It doesn't taste good. It doesn't quench your thirst (alcohol is a diuretic), so, what else is there? Mind altering drug... That's about it. IMHO, anyone who says differently is in denial...
Other more important achievements that can make one a grown up? Seems to me, from what little we know of you here, that you're already there. Your posts have consistently displayed a level of maturity beyond your actual age (and, often, beyond that of some of our fellow posters... ).
We have our priorities mixed when young people see attaining the legal right to drink as such a big deal.
First, Happy Birthday! Hope you had a great one!
Second, that's one of the most mature things I've seen you--or anyone--post on this board.
Chad
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"We can have no '50-50' allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all."-- Theodore Roosevelt
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. Ecclesiasties 10:2
The last four letters in American..........I Can
The last four letters in Republican........I Can
The last four letters in Democrats.........Rats
My family has had its share of alcoholics. I learned from them that drinking leads to stupid things. Yes, I've had the occassional beer with people. I've gotten drunk twice, once being pretty wasted, but sobriety makes more sense.
Being sober means more money to spend on, well, everything. Drinking at the bar soaks up your money all right.
before you ask, no, I did not go out and get drunk on my 21st birthday.
I had lots of fun, and the neat thing is I remember all of it. My grandparents (Mama's husband's parents) made a really nice dinner for me including a cake that wasn't a cake. (I don't eat cake and our girls don't either.)
Then we went to our favorite bar where they had gotten a bottle of sake just for me and warmed it just right for my first legal drink. (They made me show my ID. )
I had a ball and very pleasant memories of a Happy Birthday with family and friends. And I remember every minute of it.
I have nothing against drinking, but to me, it's one of those things you do in moderation.
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Proud parents of our own "Daddy's Little Girls"
I heard Jesus He drank wine and I bet we'd get along just fine.
Happy Birthday Steph, you’ve been an adult for a long time, I wish there were more young adults with the values and knowledge you have.
It’s kind of cool that you’ve almost grown up on this forum, I’m sure there are many on here that feel like they know you personally.
Happy birthday. I think you gave out too much personal info, but it's your birthday.
A drink in a bar these days is almost like being robbed, way too expensive and my kin have been in the liquor industry since we stepped of the "boat". Here's my cousins place, gteay place. http://mickeyfinnspub.com/
Thoughts on a 21st birthday...
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