Do We Ever Really Grow Up?

When you're a kid, you have this idea that when you're grown up, you'll no longer want to do things that you did as a kid. Or maybe that society will expect you not to. But I have to say, I'm turning 29 in a week, and I really don't feel that different than I did 10 years ago — except that I've lived longer and learned more.

I still love to play, which is what I'm really talking about here. These days it takes the form of collecting, dressing, and photographing dolls, but I have to say I've wondered what is so different between that and actually "playing" with them as I did as a kid. My only hesitation is when I get to the thought of doing the voices for them — which I think is more of a reflection of adults being more self-conscious, rather than being too old to play.

Another form of play that I can think of is something a lot of my guy friends still play: airsoft. It's funny to see a lot of grown men running around shooting at each other with airsoft pistols (read: toy guns for grown-ups), but there you have it. Who said that growing up had to mean that you didn't "play" anymore, anyway?