Recently, my mom was going through some boxes at my grandma’s house, and she found some old VHS tapes from 30 years ago that contained footage of my family celebrating my great grandfather’s 90th birthday. There were also a couple tapes of a trip I took with my dad, when I was 18 years old, in 1995. Looking back on those times, I was struck by the sight of how young my parents looked and how baby-faced and thin I was. I don’t feel like I’ve changed all that much, but these old tapes don’t lie. Watching the mannerisms between my dad and myself in these videos really made me recognize how “grown up” I was trying to be, while dad was just trying to hang onto his youth. I also realized that my dad, who was always the king of the highway to me, was actually five years younger than I am now! By 1995 he had been driving trucks for 25 years – I am currently in my 27th year on the road. That just blows my mind, honestly! Dad was just a big kid, and I was just a kid trying to be a big man. Aren’t we all just a little bit fickle? When we’re young, we are told to “just grow up” and, when we finally do, we cling hopelessly to our youth. I guess I’ll never really act my age.
ACT MY AGE
By Trevor Harwick
I was just a kid, with a big ol’ head,
Mama was concerned ‘bout the things I said.
Talkin’ like a trucker, and her face turned red,
Like a monkey in a little cage.
I didn’t need your Legos, and your G.I. Joes,
All I really wanted was to hit the road.
I’m not your average rug-rat, or so I’ve been told,
I’m never gonna act my age.
Later on in life, when I hit my teens,
All my friends were trendy, but I still wore jeans.
While everyone was hangin’ with the party scene,
I was on a different page.
They’d polish-off a kegger, while I’d polish wheels,
I guess I can’t expect them, to know how it feels.
They’re into gettin’ stoned, I’m into automobiles,
I’m never gonna act my age.
Somewhere back in time, I must’ve blinked my eyes,
A testament to recognizing, how time flies.
I don’t feel like I’ve changed, but to my surprise,
I’m standing on a different stage.
My hair is turning grey, and my face has lines,
My voice is getting graveled, and I’m showing signs.
Perhaps I should be yielding some, to Father Time,
But I’m never gonna act my age!