For my trip back to Singapore next trip, I’ve had to borrow a medium-sized luggage bag with wheels that I can wheel around as the one I have is too big. The next size down is a backpack for a long backpacking trip and now I can’t imagine using that anymore. It’s definitely a sign of age – I can’t do backpacks anymore. The shoulders and back don’t want to bear that kind of weight again and really, it’s kind of unglamorous for a 30-something year old woman to be carrying a huge backpack to work while clad in office wear (I’m heading straight to the airport after work next Friday). So I’ve decided I’ll have to get one for myself after this trip. Yes, the switch from backpack to trolley bag is another one of those age milestones.
Other signs of age: sales staff and wait staff call you 阿姐 or 小姐 (Miss) and no longer 小妹 (young girl). Parents get their kids to call you “Auntie” or “阿姨” instead of “姐姐” (Big Sister). There are more fine lines on my face, skin’s not so taut and am getting more and more white hair.
With my birthday coming up in two weeks, I can’t help but think about age again!