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The secret to looking young
22-04-2010I have no idea what it is but apparently I possess it. In abundance!
Last night I got asked for proof of age (yet again) in my local off licence. The drinking age is 18. I am 25 going on 26 (much to my dismay) and every time without fail 'eh sorry love can I see your ID' followed by "oh, oh, sorry' cue embarrassed look from off license employee who has by now realised I am a decade older (and possibly more) than he thought. The worst thing was, the other half was with me. If the gentleman behind the counter thinks I am a minor what must he be thinking about the 27 year old who is with me?
I could understand and maybe even forgive them for thinking I was a minor if I bought something other than wine, say for instance cider, a case of Alco pops or even vodka. But red wine? What teenager do you know drinks red wine? More to the point what teenage do you know is pedantic about what wine they drink, I am a pinot gritio or a pinto noir woman should anyone ever want to buy me a tipple.
It's not just an issue when it comes to buying alcohol though. I have on several occasions been confused for the student intern in work (you know, the 16 year old that comes in for a few weeks in the middle of transition year to get some experience) which is awkward for clients when they discover I am managing their campaign. Understandably I have had, on several occasions, clients trying to subtly find out my age. In the end I do tell them, explain that I know I look young, and then list of my experience to date which does make them feel a bit more comfortable. I find in work situations, I tend to go out of my way to prove myself, to show that I am more than capable of doing the job at hand.
Without a doubt the funniest age related situation (actually it was a combination of the two) happened just over a year ago. I was visiting my aunt who has two young boys. Keeping in mind the boys live in the country and are robust little men, I dresses in jeans, a t shirt, converse runners and I had my hair in pig tails and out of my face. (Obviously looking back now this did not help my predicament). My aunt was making us all some dinner and her husband has a young boy aged 14 who he teaches the tricks of the trade to - he is a farmer. Sitting around the table I had noticed this young lad giving me the once over, but I passed no remarks until my aunt piped up "Lee, what age do you think she is?' to which he replied '14' with a smirk. I was dumbfunded. My aunt later told me that she had seen him giving me 'the eye' and decided it would be best to let him know I was a bit out of his age range. It turns out he actually thought I was 13, but said 14 to try and impress me.
Just over two weeks later I was out for tea with my Granny and my aunt and my little 14 year old cousin from Dublin and my aunt was regaling us all with the tale of the young lad checking me out thinking I was 13. Cue much laughter from everyone round the table and we were interrupted by my aunt’s neighbour who wanted to pop over and say hello. My aunt introduced each of us round the tables and the lady then left but not before giving me and my little cousin some money to get ourselves come ice cream. After she left I don’t think any of us at the table could move for laughing so hard. None of us had the heart to tell her the truth.
So as you can see, it would appear that I have the secret to looking young. If I ever actually manage to figure it out I promise to share it with the world. In the meantime I must make sure I always have my proof of age on hand
Tags: meanderings
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