A Prelude to the Quarterlife

Two days to go.  On Wednesday, I’d be double the age I look.

Okay, that was an overstatement and only because I’ve been getting more than the usual scoop of remarks about how young I look.  The obvious response would be to take it as a compliment.  Thing is, amongst friends my height, I’m a case in isolation. But to my solace, they’d attribute it to good genes. And I buy that for peace of mind. Haha.

Twenty-three had been conceivable but twenty-four feels like a spring to my years – like I’m about to cross some border.  Of course, age remains to be a concept which is why the very title of this entry contradicts my belief.  But you know, it occasionally gives you a tug at life’s movement and a cue to step forward.

Today, I’m exactly where I visualized myself to be almost a decade ago – a bit off schedule but within approximation.   Not that I’m still following the schedule.  All the blind curves and prolonged pit stops rescued me from a life that would have been less than the best.  I would say that those deviations were divinely orchestrated – even the letdowns and setbacks.  Things would’ve been terribly different had I settled with my own blueprint and only listened to my own voice.

What would have I accomplished a quarter-of-a-century old? I would be in South Africa doing volunteer work for the UN since Beyond Borders moved me that much.  I would have fallen for some guy I’d mistake for John Cusack’s character in Serendipity.  I would be a happy stressed “public servant” who’d earn the ire of politicians ‘coz she’s too ridiculous to think she’d make a difference.  I’d be working in the DFA as if I remember anything from all my foreign language classes.  Heck, I’d probably even do a Liza Macuja. Well, maybe that’s stretching it a bit.  But no matter how silly or altruistic my intentions were, they’d fail the test of purpose.  Needless to say, I’m nowhere near any of the above. 

And thank heavens.  Almost a quarter into this life (that’s assuming I reach a hundred), I am winning souls and making disciples. Ain’t life grand?