When did this happen?

The other night Mr Husband and I went to see The World's End at the cinema. It was great, I'd recommend it. But it got me thinking, well, I suppose feeling would be a better word. You see, the central character in the film, played by Simon Pegg, is a bloke called Gary King. A local legend in his own right, but one who's (to put it nicely) a little stuck behind the times. We all know a Gary King. All of us.

And despite being a comedy, a really bloody funny comedy at that, it made me start to reflect on the fact that I'm finally starting to feel like a bit like a grown up myself. That might sound like a strange thing to say, I'm in the middle of my thirties, I'm married, I have not one, but two children, a pretty full on, complex job (albeit only on a part time basis) and, ugh, bills to pay. I should already consider myself a grown up, but no. In some ways, until some undefined point fairly recently, I still felt exactly the same way I did fifteen years ago. 

But it seems like people around me have been being sneaky little blighters and have stealthily grown older without my permission. When I think back to my younger days we all seemed so much thinner, some of us hairier (mostly the boys), we could talk enthusiastically all night about things that felt so important, or we'd smoke ourselves thin enough to wear the type of clothes I'd just laugh at now! We'd drink all night then sleep all day. Nothing phased us. We had the clothes, the attitude, the faithful group of friends, we had everything. We were so flippin cool. 

And then, almost without realising it, we drifted apart, some of those friendships, the most important ones I suppose, stood the test of time, some didn't. Even though at one point I felt like the friendships I'd forged would never break apart, some did. 

Nowadays the thought of spending a night in a bar in town terrifies me. The thought of a hangover fills me with dread.  I'm past that point. Now my idea of a great night would involve a big table, a few good friends, some good food, some good wine and a refreshing stroll home.

And you know what? I'm fine with that. I don't miss the old days. If I'd had the confidence I have now, and the body I had then I'd have been dangerous, so I guess, perhaps these things don't collide for very good reason!  I'm happy now, I'm settled. 

Watching that film I realised that I have grown up. I don't miss the life I had, but I maybe, sometimes, I miss the friendships that have got a little lost along the way. 

So, tonight I'm raising a very adult glass of proper wine to the old days.  I'm glad they happened and I'm glad to be on this side of them! 

A strange post, I know I sort of can't help it.  Does everyone feel this way? 

Love, love,