More by: Karen

My best friend growing up was a year younger than me. I remember sitting on the couch in my living room with my mother, on the verge of crying because people were giving my friend and I such crap for being “so far apart in age.”  This seems like I’m making it up, but I’m not. And looking back at the time, it seems so RIDICULOUS that this situation even happened.

I’m kinda surprised at how friends and people in the gr punk scene make such a big deal about people who are a drastic age older or younger then them. When I hear of someone who’s dating someone ten years older or younger than them, it’s the juiciest gossip for a month. This has always kinda bothered me. What makes someone no longer available to be involved with someone else?

When I was in high school, I heard about someone wanting to bring their 21 year old boyfriend to the prom with them, but the school faculty didn’t allow it. Well, this isn’t high school, and it seems like punx should be a group that is beyond  judging someone over what year they was born (like they could help it). I’d even compare this topic to people treating people different for the color of their skin or where or how they grew up. These are all things that people have no control over and frankly I think it’s stupid.

I recently moved in with someone who is 7 years younger than me.  I’ve heard many comments from people about how cool it is that someone my age is moving in with someone “drastically” younger than me. In rumors, I’ve become years older and suddenly I’m dating my roommate as well. Its funny how people will change things to make them more exciting then what they actually are.

If  people share things in common and do the same things, what’s stopping them from being friends? I understand the whole maturity issue here.9 year olds shouldn’t be dating 16 year olds. They’re galaxies away from understanding where the other one is coming from. But some 20 year old who’s best friends with someone who’s 27 isn’t that big of a deal to me. Obviously I think it all depends on maturity level, and how set people are in their ways, and that’s for the individual person to decide. But it’s not something people should consider before they become friends with someone.

It’s also a bummer when older punks feel like they can’t or shouldn’t go to shows because there will be all young kids there, or younger kids not wanting to go to “older punk” shows (besides the fact that they’re almost always in bars)? Whatever happened to the phrase “I’m gonna stay young until I die?” Kevin Seconds is still making music and touring. Looks like he’s holding up his end of the deal.