I get carded more now than when I was in my Twenties

Photo by Jacalyn Beales on Unsplash

Here I am, into my thirties now, trying to get a drink at a restarant. I’m here with my husband, and we’re basically the same age. I order a Moscow mule from a waitress who, without taking a beat, asks to see my ID. This is much to my surprise, since all throughout my twenties I was rarely, if ever, carded.

Now, I can’t go anywhere where I would want to order an alcoholic beverage without bringing my ID.

I don’t feel like I look young. In fact, I’ve never felt like I have looked young. Throughout my life I have attracted older men. I was more physically developed, particularly in the chest area, before most of my friends in school. I have never, ever been told that I look younger than I am.

Getting carded more frequently has gotten so noticable that recently my mother-in-law said something in conversation about it — something to the affect of “yeah, Sam always gets carded.”

Before I heard mother-in-law mention it, I thought I was being paranoid. Nah, I’m not getting carded more now, it’s all in my head — I thought. Apparently not, since others are noticing now too. This is fascinating to me.

I’m not a heavy drinker. I very rarely drink to get drunk. I don’t prefer the taste of alcohol much. I like mixed drinks, and I enjoy hard cider, particularly with…