A funny and depressing story... how old do you think I am?

Today I had occasion to talk with a young man of perhaps 18 or 19, 20 at the high side of things.

I noted that the young man was wearing a baseball hat emblazened with the name of a band that is now on tour. Said band was also on the scene when I was in college. I commented about the band on the hat and about the current state of affairs of said band. He was shocked. Shocked that I knew about said band and the current state of affairs. I shrugged it off and proclaimed hipness.

Had occasion to talk with the young man again later on today and commented on another band that he had mentioned. Mind you, this band was also very cool and helped pave the way for the demise of hair metal (I like hair metal, don't misunderstand) when I was in college.

The young man asked me again, how did I know all of these things... I was feeling a sense of quiet confidence and satisfaction until the young man used whatever evidence he had to make this inquisitive assumption... "Do you have a son that is into the music?"

I was a deer in headlights, I didn't even realize what he said until I got into my car and stared straight ahead.

This incident, on its own, wouldn't bother me for more than 20 minutes. However, when joined with a 15 year high school reunion, the last strange days of Mr. Eddie Van Halen, a niece in 6th grade and my own home... all of the signs point to it, the road leads to it and there is no exit ramp... I am getting older.