Things That Make Me Feel More Like A Grown-up

Recently it hit me that I'm almost 26 years old.  Part of me thinks "yup, 26, that's young" and the other part of me thinks back to when I was in elementary school and 26 seemed so mature and grown-up.  While I feel more like a grown-up than I did at the age of 15 or 18 or even 22, I definitely don't feel as wise as I know my parents are.  Obviously they have a few more years on me, but as an almost 26-year-old, here are some things that make me feel more like a grown-up:

1) Buying plane tickets for two.  My first opportunity to do so was a month ago when I booked our flights to Boston for Jaleh's graduation.  These are our first flights alone together that we get to sit next to each other (a lot of qualifiers, but it's true).  Our honeymoon was our first flight alone together, but we didn't get to sit next to each other.  We sat across the aisle from each other.  Our goal was to ask someone if they would switch with one of us but we were both sitting next to two older couples.  I've been informed that we should have explained that we were on our honeymoon, but we're just not those people.

2) Receiving Christmas/Ayyám-i-Há cards in the mail.  This is something that I've always looked forward to and I'm excited that it happens now.  Who doesn't love snail mail?  Someday I'll be on top of things and send out our own.

3) Changing my "permanent address" on everything from my parents' address to my current address.  I keep coming across things that have my parents' address listed as my permanent address.  I should probably keep a list of everywhere we need to contact when it's time to move.  Yikes.

4) Dates with our niece & nephew.  Kyle became an uncle when Milo was born, but I became an aunt when we got married.  Being an auntie brings a lot of responsibilities which I absolutely love.  I grew up with really great aunties and I hope that I can model their likeness.

5) New grey hair spottings.  Yup.  You read that right.  I've had grey hairs for a couple years now.  In fact, my first grey hair spotting was at age 11.  I pulled that sucker out.  And some others that popped up in high school and college.  Yes, I knew they were grey and not blonde.  During medical school I have decided to embrace my grey hairs.  As someone who has always had her age underestimated, maybe this will make people think I'm older than I actually am - increasing patient trust, perhaps?  I know I should appreciate that I "look young" but it's always been rather annoying and I want my future patients to be able to take me seriously - or at least, my future patients' parents.

6) Planning for retirement.  Oy vey.  I think this is pretty self-explanatory.

7) Receiving mail with my new last name.  As a girl I always imagined that I would keep my family name because what dude would ever have a better name?  Turns out I found the only one on the planet.  I decided to take Kyle's family name because it helps with the whole unity aspect of marriage and it makes it easier for kids/everyone.  If his name had been Smith, Lebedintsev, or Rodriguez it would have been a no-go.  When I see mail addressed to me with my new name, it brings me so much joy as it is a reminder of our wonderful marriage.  It's like a moment of thankfulness every time I get mail.