Good-bye Interns
The office interns are leaving and I am going to miss them, not only for their proven stapling abilities and new found copying skills. I actually like them, a fact that I have tried to hide to varying degrees of success.
Friday afternoon found me at a “Good-bye Interns” lunch at a local restaurant. I knew I should participate in the big people conversation, where topics included the weather and the likelihood of our company buying new computers, but the 16-19 year-old crowd drew me in.
“I really want to start reading Dave Sedaris,” I overheard someone casually mention as I pretended to listen sympathetically as an older man outlined the details of his diet. I knew I should continue nodding rhythmically in his direction but my head involuntarily whipped around to the Sedaris-loving high-schooler.
“I have all of his books,” I told her.
“Yeah? I really want to read Augusten Burroughs too.”
“Oh my God, I have all his books too!”
“And I have to finish reading The Crimson Petal and the White.”
“I loved that book! Did you know Michael Faber is writing a sequel?”
“Seriously?”
As I nodded, it dawned on me that I had the same taste in reading material as a high-schooler. It was a humbling moment.
After spending lunch with my back to the adult side of the table, I left the restaurant amidst a gaggle of teenagers trying to explain to me how easy it is to hack into someone else’s e-mail. (Creepily, they all seemed to know how to do this, leading me to briefly wonder if any of them cared enough about me to hack into my e-mail).
Back in the office, I was approached by two of the thirty-plus crowd.
“CB, you’re like the pied piper,” one teasingly told me.
“It’s very sweet of you to take care of the interns,” said another.
“You would make a great mom,” said the first.
I laughed uncomfortably, realizing there was something wrong with a twenty-four year-old woman who, instead of playing mom and trying to mold sixteen-year-olds into upright citizens, encourages them to teach her about illegal activities.
And so I will miss the interns, but I’m grateful that they are leaving sooner rather than later. It was probably only a matter of time before my newfound maternal image was revealed as a sham. Then I would just be weird.
29 comments:
there is nothing wrong with a 20something hanging with teens. you are only as young as you feel. apparently THEY feel as young as a mother. gross
Welcome to den motherhood.
I recently attended a "dinner party", possibly my first one in 30 years, and was appalled when I was told I'd be sitting at the adult table. Of course everyone at the adult table was my age, but all my friends were at the "kids table".
I literally had never realized the "adults" were my true contemporaries. Very sobering moment, or would have been, had it not cause me to drink excessively.
CB
So, what you're trying to tell us is that socially and emotionally you're a teenager. I don't see how this qualifies you for motherhood. I can only imagine what the comments would have been like if you had been a young man instead of a young lady. Scandalous no doubt.
Oh, CB!
You don't have high school taste in lit. This kid is just catching up faster than most his age. He's just now finding books that you've enjoyed and purchased already.
Or perhaps I'm in denial due to the fact that I adore David Sedaris. And now I'll be seeking Augusten Burroughs on your reccomendation.
Long time reader; first comment. I enjoy your writing and find your blog hilarious. Please let me know if you move, I'd really miss reading!
Thanks CB.
Guess you had some good interns there. The ones where I am are horrible.
I didn't go in to work on Friday and got this email from one of them: "I thought you were coming in today you shmuck!"
My job, at least with the interns, is to tell them what to do and make sure it's done. They don't like sitting around, they actually want to accomplish something. Hate them!
I work in admissions at a university and I love the student workers much more than I like my real co-workers. Sometimes, though, I feel like I'm so effing old and I only hang out with them so they can make me "feel young." I'm like their Cool Dad.
I wish the interns would blog about you sometime.
Nothing wrong with it at all. There is no magic threshold we pass over, leaving our youthful interests and funloving selves behind. (Probably. But if one exists it is unlikely to be in your office building.)
And yeah. If you move? Let me come with you. Love this blog. You'll never be weird. Singularly fabulous, yes, but weird, no.
I love when I get interns in my office. Last year after one of them came to me and said, "I think I failed my drug test, what do you think will happen to me?" I pulled him aside, and informed him never to say or ask anything like that, and that no one will find anything out. He was fired 2 days later for failing his drug test.
more crafty than weird, I feel.
You'll learn that most people don't talk about their personal lives in too much detail at work. The tendency will be to talk about safe things, which you know about and are in the process of learning.
God, I love intern season. The boys are so cute and helpless when they're in the real world for a couple of months without their mommy and daddy. And the girls are so impressionable. Ahhh, goodbye interns. Until next year...
I see no shame in sharing conversation about Sedaris and Burroughs. Sounds like good company to me ... whaterver their age is.
Tell them about your blog!
Did you learn how to hack into email?
Hmmn, I also tend to lean towards to younger ones at work.
I may have some re-evaluating to do.
Damned blogs, making me think about my life.
I do trust that if you move your blog you will let the faithful readers know!
It's a good thing that you conspired with them - when they're older, they can do favors for you (especially if the favors involve hacking into someone's email)
I am totally out of the loop? Who are Sedaris and Burroughs? Here I am reading "Good in Bed" and "In Her Shoes" (pre-movie). Can you eat ice cream and read Sedaris and Burroughs? like you can while reading Jennifer Weiner????
Woah, I was gonna comment something about how it's good to hang on to your youth, teens aren't so dumb as they look etcetc but then you said 'twenty four year old woman' and hang on...you are still young! I've been seeing a 22 year old, I go clubbing with a 26 year old...I would hang out with a 24 year old but I never see her to meet up...
My point is, sure, you don't want the older ones to think you're immature, but don't you go leaving your youth behind already, you're still in it!
I read an excerpt from Dave Sedaris' "Me Talk Pretty" and I'm going to buy it!!
Wow..I wouldn't have understood half of what was written in TCPAW when I was sixteen. Times they are a changin'.
I agree with the above poster...you're still young and hip...don't wish it away too fast.
Also, a long time ago you wrote about your best (male) friend and the dynamics of your relationship. I wanted to post a comment telling you to marry him, and I wish I had. Marrying your best friend is the best way I know of to be content in your marriage. I know because I did it.
Sorry for the tangent. I've been reading for a long time and this is my first comment. I enjoy your blog very much.
I'm slightly troubled about the email hacking thing. I've had the same address for about 6 years. I wonder how many others are enjoying my correspondence?
Faber is doing a sequel? Fantastic! Please let something wonderfull happen to Sugar...
...teenagers of that age are so wonderfull. They have such a lust for life that I think you tend to lose when you get to our age. I would much rather speak to them than listen to another dull conversation about interior design...
Oh to be an intern again. Wait, it's no different than my life as a 24 year old. Except then I had hope.
damnit.
You mean hanging out with the youngsters is not the done thing ? Geez, I am in deep trouble.! Thanks for the heads up.
:-)
I don't know why one would envy an intern- unless you have a great boss, its another form of indentured servitude....
Michel Faber.
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