Word from A Reader

After writing about my 18yo escapade, I got MANY emails, haha... thanks!  I nearly debated not doing another "frank" entry after that one because people have been a little critical, one could say, but I say fuck you.  Which is also typically me, so....enjoy what is to come in the future :)  It will only keep growing ;)  Anways, this email really REALLY stood out.  I am not going to give out names, other than mine, but their hope and happiness rang out to me.  Though, I am still solid about my feelings towards empty twinkies.  Like a real twinkie, the average person only wants one or two in a year.  Unless your obsessed with the idea, like most.  As  follow up, the poor twink thing has spent three days trying to get me to hang out again, haha.  Sigh.  Poor thing.

Hey Frank,
Anyways, the story about your 18 experience particularly rang true to me today. I
have been seeing this guy who actually went to my high school, though
we didn't know eachother then. He is 18; I am 23. His dad was my
soccer and ceramics teacher. I quickly got over those facts but still
they bother me a bit. The sex is fumbly, he is particularly
insightful and intelligent but that lack of world experience is a bit
troubling. If (*) was like the guy in your story, I would have
nothing to do with him  espcially with the liter on the highway! -
perhaps just the 4 hours of 'fun'.

What particularly interests me is that for the first time in my
reasonably young life, I have totally fallen for him not because he
is just a little sweet piece of ass, but he genuinely gives me ease
of mind when I put myself next to him. It is a strange thing, I would
never suspect myself being one to fall for someone younger than me -
with so much youthful exuberance, unknowing excitement and relative
detachment from my own reality. I guess he makes me feel like less of
a cynic and trust what I feel.  This kid wrote his essay for college
about sustainability, for fucks sake. When he says that he loves me,
there isn't that anxiety that I would have before about not being the
right version of me around him. i.e. doing and saying the wrong thing
and thinking about useless shit too much. He is freedom and
disregards my skepticism that America is no longer a great place.
Maybe it will get better with he and I and maybe it will get worse,
but I am particularly glad that he is there right now. Sorry for the
mini-rant, just needed to get it off my chest and your blog entry
today had that effect. Cheers from Boulder.

Comments

[Benji]

can relate to how he felt. and miss it every day.

[Mike]

My two cents, for what is worth... if you’re over 23 and contemplating dating someone under 23 - don’t do it. It’s best to avoid these relationships. They tend to be “difficult” to say the least. There’s a dividing line somewhere between 21 and 23 (it fluctuates from person to person) that shouldn’t be crossed. I’m not sure why, it might have something to do with how the human brain matures or handles emotion, but it generally holds true. Of course, on the other hand, if you’re both under 23 or both over 23, then go for it!!!

Alternatively, some people like dating younger (referred to as “young souls” or “old leches”) and some like dating older (referred to as “old souls” or having “daddy” issues). This is a different issue, it’s just a preference. And it’s all good, provided you don’t cross the 23 year old divide.