How Young Do I Look?
By pumpkinjam
@pumpkinjam (8769)
United Kingdom
October 2, 2020 4:10am CST
Apparently, I shocked and confused some men in a pub the other day. It's a nice, fairly quiet pub that I visit while waiting for my youngest son when he is at his Explorer Scouts group. I'll usually pop in, have a diet Coke or two, and spend some time working on research and writing. Due to the pandemic, Explorers has only recently returned. Previously, I would sometimes spend time in one of the three village pubs while I would come home at other times. Unfortunately, there is not enough time for me to walk home before having to come back for my son, and the buses have been changed so it's now even more difficult to get transport in and out of the village. Anyway, that's another story.
Of the three pubs in the village, one is currently boarded up awaiting a buyer, another is cramped and uncomfortable, and the third is friendly and quiet - so that's where I go. I'd been going in for the past few weeks. There would usually be a group of guys in there. More or less the same group with odd different people. They always chat a little bit while I'm working. I don't know if they are nosy, generally interested in what I'm doing, or just making conversation.
Well, yesterday, I don't really know why - perhaps there was part of a conversation I'd missed or forgotten - they asked me how old I am. One of them told another that it was rude to ask a lady her age I didn't mind, though. I minded even less when I saw their shocked faces as I told them how old I am. No idea how old they thought I was.
I have attached a picture here. It's a year old but it's the most recent one I had on the computer. I do have another from the same time, which I might add in a comment if I can.
I have often been mistaken for being much younger, especially when I talk about my family. I thought I had actually begun to look my age now. Apparently not.
What I'd like to know is: how old do I look here?
Do you get mistaken for a completely different age? I'm also quite bad at working out other people's ages now, although I used to be good at it when I worked in industries where age restrictions were important.
8 people like this
8 responses
@pumpkinjam (8769)
• United Kingdom
2 Oct 20
My age is on my profile - which I actually forgot until other people mentioned it here!
You're the only person who has actually said older. If your older friend looks like me, she's looking very good for her age
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
2 Oct 20
@pumpkinjam She's Italian, maybe that helps! Anyway you look great, no matter the age. And you're not as old as me : )
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
2 Oct 20
@pumpkinjam But yes I can imagine people find it hard to believe you have grown-up children. You must have started very young. I find that really amazing, awe-inspiring even. I couldn't possibly have had children at such a young age, I didn't have the patience, the skills, the experience, or even the resources. I was almost as old as you are now when I had my eldest daughter.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
2 Oct 20
I agree with @topffer. I'd say that that photo shows someone in their late 20's or early 30's, though I'm pretty sure that you have a few more years of experience than that - does it really matter how many? They say that one is only as old as the girl one feels (or was that a joke about older men?).
3 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8769)
• United Kingdom
2 Oct 20
I'm sure you know how old I am, but I do very much appreciate you saying I look so much younger.
I hope I'm not as old as the man I feel - he's 10 years older than me (although looks even younger).
3 people like this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
2 Oct 20
Hey, I did check out your page, because I am not familiar with your avatar. Surely, your response on my post was well-taken, because I was sure a critical thinking process was exercised for the response. That is how I prefer discussions and responses. Thank you.
Your post here is another piece of good writing. It has a significant human experience worth narrating. An episode in your life that probably made you blush. Yes, you are one of the beautiful ones blessed with looks forever young.
2 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8769)
• United Kingdom
2 Oct 20
Thank you. I am a writer so I would hope that I write well Your response must be the most compliments ever given at one time.
2 people like this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
3 Oct 20
@pumpkinjam Am rather surprised at that, because you are truly beautiful and you write very well.
Perhaps people just come short of compliments because they are simply reticent, or inhibited.
Keep writing. And remain beautiful for your family and all of us.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
2 Oct 20
I would say mid to late 30’s. Then I went to go peek at your profile age
2 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8769)
• United Kingdom
2 Oct 20
Then you will know you were about right
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
4 Oct 20
@pumpkinjam Hehe you look beautiful! And that’s a nice smile! Have a wonderful day!
@pumpkinjam (8769)
• United Kingdom
2 Oct 20
I think I (and probably other people) look different ages at different times. I'm sure there are pictures of me from the same day where I look my age on some, older on others, and younger on others. I don't mind people asking my age. I was simply curious as to how old I looked to people, given that it seems to come as a surprise that I have adult children. People are even more surprised that I have grandchildren, but they are step-grandchildren. I'm only 13 years older than my step-daughter.
I should hope I look happy in the picture - it was my wedding day
2 people like this
@Bensen32 (27753)
• United States
2 Oct 20
@pumpkinjam I guess that is a good reason to be happy.
1 person likes this
@piyushbhatia1 (11695)
• India
2 Oct 20
The flowers compliement the photo very well
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@pumpkinjam (8769)
• United Kingdom
2 Oct 20
Thank you. That lovely bouquet was created by a very talented friend of mine.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8769)
• United Kingdom
2 Oct 20
I was exactly 39 on that photo. It was my birthday as well as my wedding day
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
2 Oct 20
@pumpkinjam You look really good. My niece is 35, I more or less guesses your age comparing with my niece.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181717)
• United States
2 Oct 20
That's a lovely picture of you. I hate to guess ages. Everyone looks so young to me since I'm getting so old...although I don't look my age either.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8769)
• United Kingdom
2 Oct 20
Thank you. It is one of my favourite pictures of me on my own
1 person likes this