I never understood the true meaning of the "goober look" until recently. As a child growing up the "older" generation seemed weird. They had a very simplistic sense of humor (believe me when I say sometimes calling it a sense of humor was a complete stretch). They marveled over things that seemed from a backwards era. They ignored what seemed hip and on the mark choosing what must have been oh so boring. Yet acting as if they were the coolest thing on the planet. Growing up yuck not me, youth forever death at 30. Thus giving the "goober look" as I leave the room embarrassed to be related to the group left behind.

I am now getting close to that 40 mark there are many of you out there, my aunts and uncles who have gasped loudly, grabbed a hold of the nearest stable, secure object in order to keep from passing out. A fond or not so fond memory of my brothers and I pops in their head as they remember their part of my youth and all the things they shared. Yes I am 1½ yrs away from that large obnoxious four decades old. And as I was saying, getting close to that 4 0 I recently woke up and realized that my oldest son looks at me the same way I looked at the crazy old farts from my youth (ya know that 30 and older crowd). With the reception of that look I have begun to understand the true meaning of being an adult: getting that look.

No. being an adult isnt the pleasure of getting that long sought after drivers license or the pure joy of legally walking into a bar - being confused over what I should order now that I am an adult. It isnt even the sheer magnitude of feeling supreme power and freedom the 1^{st time you pull the lever on the voting machine - forever making an impact on history. It isnt reporting to work your 1st day to realize it is forever no more summer breaks and being an adult is not signing that 1st official lease without mom and dad beside you.}

No it is none of these things. The true walk over to adulthood happens when you start getting that "goober look".

I have spent much time recently dissecting that "goober look" for I swear I have not acted anyway near those others I used to wonder about long ago. I am hip, I am cool, I am so in, amazingly funny and cute and well, darn it I am not 1 foot in the grave old yet. So, after much thought and concern here is my revised, updated, new century, adult definition of the "goober look".

That "goober look" is a symbol that somehow you are making a difference - you know in a subtle way a way that only knowledge and experience can claim. Forever being proud of the simplest pleasures brought on by the simplest of actions. Bringing pure happiness to another with no strings attached just because you can. It is giving in a pure sense of the word while knowing the only reception back will be a look of expectedness and "what took you so long". It is the "duh are ya done yet and yeah,yeah,yeah blah,blah,blah" you get when you tell a story of the long ago dark ages of your youth. It is the realization that to one you are an adult while to another you are an obnoxious youngster. It is a hug on one side and eyes rolling on the other. It is realizing 38 is way to old to be trying to rationalize with a 3 year old yet all the while knowing you are losing to that same 3 year old. It is beginning to appreciate youth in all its glory and to respect age in all its knowledge.

It is amazing the sacrifices I never realized took place in my youth. Maybe I never knew they took place because the person giving didnt consider their gift a sacrifice? I dont know? But I do know that sacrifice is a true meaning of adulthood thus the "goober look". Sacrificing time, effort and a tad bit of self respect in order to give, honestly give, what that wide eyed youth is asking for. Be it giving up the last piece of a delicious chocolate cake or the hot steaming bath for a read me one more story mommy or to watching a movie up to the last 5 minutes because a love struck youth needs to be picked up or taken somewhere. To finish up that so long outstanding house project or to help a good neighbor move furniture??? Its all the sacrifices that we manage every day.

As for that "goober look".. now armed with my new clear definition I have come to realize that I gave it for the same reason I am getting it. Life is hard, cruel and sometimes down right unfair what was once an open field of opportunities slowly becomes dreams lost forever. But somewhere even for a split second in life the real joy of living comes from sharing all there is to share with the ones that mean the most - true friends, family and loved ones. Gathering together to create a memory that will bring a smile from deep within at an odd moment when, for whatever reason, one of your senses triggers that memory years later at a moment when its most needed. Youth flies in the door, for a moment, just a single moment you forget all the troubles that you have come so adjusted to. Pure fun and joy take over making you giggle and laugh over the simple things because simplicity is pure and golden.