Oh Baby

I think I am still a little scared of Adulthood. I went to Houston this weekend for a baby shower for two friends of mine from college. Now, I am not a "girly" girl, so showers are usually somewhat awkward for me (I lack the pastel outfits, the flippy hair, and thoughtful, personal gifts usually seen at showers). So, I show up with a brown and navy outfit, utterly flat and very sad hair, and a couple of gift certificates that I could have given to any stranger on the street. Disaster. On top of that, one of my friends was literally due the very next day, so we had some boiling water, a few blankets and an OB/GYN on hand, just in case things started moving.

Well, I walked in the door (late, of course) and found not two, but FIVE Pregnant Girls there. I was afraid I would get Pregnant (or at least exceptionally hormonal) just by sitting amongst so many dividing cells, so I girded my loins and took a seat in the corner. Aside from positively horrendous gifts that included diapers, nursing pads (don't ask), swaddling cloths (like baby burritos), etc., the shower was actually quite fun. Two of my close friends were in charge of it and had some great games planned (one of which had us sucking apple juice out of baby bottles in a no holds barred competition--and yes, we are all technically "Adults").

After the main part of the shower was over, I endured that awkward period where the girls you haven't seen in a few years ask what you're up to (this can be worse than Thanksgiving with the extended family). I told the majority of them that I had won the lottery, given the majority of my winnings to the Get Brad and Jen Back Together Foundation, and after that collapsed, spiraled into an abyss of purposelessness and apathy and, after a few months of eating nothing but peanut M&Ms, crawled ashamedly into the only profession that would take such an emotionless, hopeless human being. Upon hearing this, most of my girlfriends sighed and said, "So, you're gonna be a Teacher, huh?"

The moral of the story is that I was astounded to see that so many people I know (who are pretty close to my age) are not only married, but are starting to pop out little ones, while I'm moving off to Bonham, single and fabulous, much like Jennifer Aniston in Friends (just without all the friends...or the cool apartment...or the fun wardrobe...okay, so maybe only the fabulous part). I am actually excited to see what Dating in the Real World is like. I don't think it can be much different than the College World, or the Pseudo Post-College Twenty-Something World. I figure I can take my time, because although I think it would be fun to have a kid and be able to use things like the "Diaper Genie" (and, you know, to quench my motherly instincts), after that shower, I am crossing my fingers that I won't be popping out anything for quite some time.