Please, make me look older

Category: Lifestyle

I clearly remember the call that followed my classified ad in 1995 about piano lessons.

I was in my early twenties, but already had a 4-year degree in music education from Kiev, Ukraine. There, it's considered to be an Associate's degree, because I went to college at 14, but in the U.S., its level is way beyond Bachelor's in music (one of my best kept secrets of how I got my "Bachelor's in Music Education" at 19).

As I picked up the phone, I was just finishing laughing at my husband's joke, so my voice sounded a little squeeky when I answered. I tried sounding serious, but the lady still said, "Can I speak to your mom?"

I asked her what it was in regards to, to which she replied "It's about piano lessons." When I introduced myself and said that I was the piano teacher, she hung up the phone in disbelief.

So now, in my early 30s, I ask myself, do I look old enough to people to take me seriously? Do I sound old enough to be the CEO of a world-wide coaching organization?

Please, make me look older, I said to my hairdresser. I need to look older for my photograph. (You can see that photo at the top left corner of this web site).

How ironic...in a few years, I'll beg her to make me look younger.