When I was first out of veterinary school I would get asked how old I was all the time.  I would get tired of the “are you old enough to be a doctor” questions.  I would take it personally as if they were insinuating that I did not know enough to be a doctor.  A few weeks ago a new client asked me that very question and then immediately was embarrassed for asking the question, he felt it was an inappropriate question.  But as soon as he asked a different reaction came to me, one of, ‘I haven’t been asked that in quite some time’.  At first I was happy to have my age questioned, but that happiness soon weaned into the realization that since I am not being asked those questions I may not be as young as I used to be. 

The realization is beginning to dawn on me as well with my coworkers.  I am now a decade older than some of the staff and it serves as a constant reminder when I make a reference to Family Ties or Back to the Future (I never realized what a huge Michael J. Fox fan I am) and only get blank stares in reaction. There is some sneaking foreshadowing occurring when the pop culture items I hold dear outdate some of my coworkers.

One pop culture mountain from the eighties that was brought back to the forefront this summer was Michael Jackson.  This summer one of our coworker’s weddings was approaching and one of the technicians began telling the rest of the staff that Dr. Rollo can moonwalk and he would showcase his skills at the wedding.  When the rumor reached me I had the opportunity to confirm or deny, but decided to let the cards fall where they may.  Had I even moon walked before?  No, could I?  Possibly, anything is possible at eleven on a Saturday with some liquid courage.  So by saying nothing the rumor of my dancing skills grew and by the week leading up to the wedding I knew there was a good chance I would have to back up the rumor I failed to deny. 

So last Saturday approached and I was not given much of a warm-up.  The third song into the fast dance part of the evening was Billie Jean and I immediately looked up to see a majority of the staff egging me on.  Some in this position may have brushed them off, but when the bride comes up to you to get you on the floor you have no choice, this is her evening.  So I went back in my head to the music video that aired 25 years ago and began jumping on the imaginary lighted squares on the dance floor and I was off.  There were jumps, twirls, the snap of the fingers, the pivoting of the ankle and of course the moonwalk.  It didn’t take long before I was the center of the dance floor and everyone was watching me, so for the four minutes and fifty two seconds I gave it my all.  Yes, I may have needed to assistance of an oxygen mask afterwards but the next Monday at work I was the talk around the ultrasound machine.  I’ve heard talk about a Youtube posting but I wouldn’t know the first place to look.

It was a nice opportunity to feel younger, to relate to my younger coworkers.  So the next time a client asks me how old I am, and that is assuming I will ever be asked that question again.  I will be happy he asked and tell him, “just old enough to moonwalk.”