Here I am, working half-time and having thoughts again.

It’s October, which means I have been living with the worst bedside calendar ever for ten months now. Ten months! I should have abandoned ship right away in February when it became clear that this calendar was not a winner, but here I am having already turned the page nine times.

Usually I pick something adorable for my bedside calendar. Like kittens, or hamsters driving tiny cars. One year I had a whole calendar of ducklings (that was a good year).

Vintage arts and crafts wallpaper is just not doing it for me.

I have been thinking a lot about age. At my temp job, and this new permanent job, I have found myself working closely with people who are younger than me. Not super young, but–you know–in their thirties young.

The last time I was a working person, back before kids, I was in my mid-twenties and I was surprised to be working with so many people in their mid-thirties.

Or no, that’s not right. I wasn’t surprised to be working with people in their thirties. I was surprised that I liked and enjoyed these people in their thirties. They were witty and fun and enjoyed going out to the bar as much as I did. People in their thirties… they’re just like us!

Of course, now I’m on the other side of my thirties! Hoping that I can still be witty and fun even if I don’t enjoy going to the bar as much as I used to.

I also wanted to recommend the documentary Ethel on Max, which I have already watched several times and will likely rewatch this weekend. Ethel Kennedy’s obituary in the New York Times is wonderful, but the documentary is even better.