The old man...is down the road.

When I watch television, my laptop is always within arms reach. This way I can quickly do a Google or an IMDb search of the various actors, actresses, or sports figures I’m watching to learn more about them. Recently, however, I’ve started to notice a trend — nearly everyone I look up any more is younger than me.

Having grown up in a household that was run by two children trapped in adults bodies, I was raised with the notion that no matter how old you get you can always retain the playfulness and joy from your youth. I’m now 35-years old and I still think I’m “just a kid.” This outlook on life came moreso from my Mom than my Dad and, to this day, Mom is still just a “mean widdle kid” trapped in the body of a 74-year old woman. She buys the big boxes of Crayola® crayons and a multitude of coloring books…not for her grandchildren or for the kids in the neighborhood but for herself. Sure, she’ll invite you to color with her but I’ve caught her many a time throughout my life coloring away by herself. It’s so cute.

I’d like to think that I still have my youthfulness completely intact. My kids can attest to this, surely, with the excitement I have when one of my favorite cartoons is released on DVD or when we are playing one of our silly little games. Do I suffer from Peter Pan Syndrome and refuse to grow up? Naw, not in the least. I’m a father of two children. I have a great job that places a lot of responsibility on my head. But, throughout it all, I’m still just a kid at heart.

Specifying an age that I feel, though, differs on a daily basis and depends entirely on the situation. Put me in a room where I’m flirting with a woman and I instantly lose about 15-20 years. Find me out bowling and I’m ten years old (and trash talking to boot). I’ll never lose my youthful mind, no matter how old I get.

Here in a few hours I’ll be picking up my kids. I’m taking my son to see “Raiders of the Lost Ark” on the big screen before returning home and playing video games, most likely. Tomorrow morning we’ll pick up my daughter and the three of us will have “Big Breakfast,” followed by an afternoon of crazy crafts or whatever we dream up. And who will be the biggest kid in the trio during all of this?

Take one good guess.