It's the Time of the Season

I realized today that I've reached a new stage of life. It's something I've been slowly noticing over the last year or so, but it really hit me today: I am what I used to consider old. Well, not "old" old, more like "cool" old. What-are-you-going-to-be-when-you-grow-up kind of old. It's not the old of "all my friends are dying," or "all my friends are retiring," or "all my friends are having children" -- but it is the old of "all my friends are getting married." Having passed the "all my friends are graduating" stage, I find this one a little bit scarier. Everyone graduates at a regular, pre-set time. Marriage is not so inclusive or so predictable; there is an element of the unknown attached to it, as well as one of maturity beyond that required for high-school graduation. Thus it is a prospect both more intimidating and surprising than a simple line-up-in-a-row graduation ceremony.

This realization came about during my day out with the girls (always a good setting for news and new realizations). We were discussing a certain (absent) friend and her current living/working situation:

Ruth: "...so she's down in the Galleria area, living with a couple of her sisters."
Me: "Isn't one of her sisters getting married soon?"
Ruth: "No, I don't think so... Adel got married last spring, though."
Me: "Adel? Oh that's right, I think I heard about that."
Ruth: "I've never met Adel."
Me: "She was my camp counselor when I was like eight."
Ruth: "Yeah, and Joanna got married too."
Me: "Really? Well I guess that doesn't surprise me. So who is she living with?"
Ruth: "Monica and Jill."
Me: "I don't think I know Monica."
Ruth: "I met her last week at Becky's wedding."
Me: "Who's wedding?!?"
Ruth: "Becky's."
Me: "Wait, she's married?!?"
Ruth: "Yeah, just last week."
Me: "Wow, nobody told me..."
Ruth: "And Catherine is getting married next week, did you hear about that?"
Me: "Yeah, I did. Christina told me -- she's getting married too."
Jenna: "New Year's Eve, right?"
Me: "That's the date."
Ruth: "Wait, is that Joe's sister? I don't think I know her."
Me: "Yeah, she was one of my best friends in high school. I'm really happy for her, but I can't believe she's engaged..."

At which point I think the above realization hit me. Five weddings in one conversation is simply too much anyway. And this is on top of finding out only two days before that Rayel and David are now engaged, plus at least three other weddings last May or June involving friends of mine.

I'm not complaining. I have no prospects, but I do have fun. The only thing I see down my road is another 5 years of school, but I suppose getting a Ph.D. could be almost as big of news as getting married would be. I'm not exactly sure what the point of all this is -- the impression I have is a mix of surprise, awe, jealousy, and maybe a little fear -- but anyway, I thought it deserved a post since it is the most interesting and complex revelation I've had all week.

Comments and/or proposals appreciated ;-)