on approaching 23

23 is different.

22 is a wobbling bridge in a rural village in China. On one side of the bridge is the lively marketplace full of colors and commerce. On the other side is the quiet, fertile valley with the continual flight and landing of birds on the hillside.

22 is a time when the ladder of education has been climbed down and things look different with both feet on the ground and no more homework, or term papers need to be done.

22 is maze with 22 ways to get to the center and all 22 ways will get you there and all 22 ways have different challenges and rewards that accompany them.

22 is hanging out on the shore for a bit before diving in, thinking should I take a row boat, or swim across? 22 is a cat perched on a wall at night gazing into neighbors windows seeing what they cook for dinner.

22 is having lived in a residence hall with 2oo girls and one bathroom with 5 sinks that work, and a roommate who leaves dirty condoms in the wastebasket and the neighbors down the hall are singing show tunes at 1am again. 22 is having taken the 400 level classes and getting As, and knowing where to go to find the good printer in the computer lab. 22 is graduating with honors and leaving town to live in the mountains for the summer. 22 is two foriegn countries and three foreign languages and a peso and a pound kept in your wallet for good luck.

22 is working two jobs to pay 1st and last months rest, and seven hundred the next month too for the deposit. 22 is too young for a career and too old for only summer jobs and part time at the cafe.

22 is chosing the name of your own saint and erecting an alter to the principals you hold most dear, and not only honoring them, but living them day by day until you learn them by touch and routine. One day you will wake up and realize you have become that image of compassion, prudence and courage, and then you will realize the time and find that 22 is past, and 23 is here.