If it's too loud...

As a spinster, people make a lot of my age, and honestly, sometimes I do too. It's not that I feel old usually. In fact sometimes, especially at work, I have to remind myself that I'm an adult.

Earlier this week I had an experience though that really made me feel old. I was running some errands with a friend who asked me if I minded stepping into Virgin Records with her.

Now, when Virgin came to Chicago I was all over that place. They were open until midnight, and I dated (briefly) a guy who worked there. It was total Nirvana. I would go in, listen to all the new stuff, talk to the DJ and enjoy the ambiance.

Admittedly, I haven't been spending much time at Virgin in the last few years. I prefer doing my shopping at Amazon.com and some of the smaller shops around - think High Fidelity. But I cheerful went in with my friend, thinking I might find a gift or two.

The wall of sound hit me like a tidal wave when we entered. The techno music was so loud that it quite literally took over my heartbeat. I thought I was going to have my first heart attack. I moved on to the back of the store and then upstairs trying to avoid the volume. But it was no use. There is no escape from the Virgin DJ.

The music overwhelmed all of my senses, and everything seemed too bright to look at. I went back downstairs to try to hurry my friend along, but it was no use. She was really happy. In fact, she was encouraging me to listen to listen to the new Kate Bush CD. Although I couldn't imagine any more noise, I obediently went over and put on the germ-infested headphones. I couldn't even hear the CD over the DJ. That's when I realized I needed air. Now.

As I made my way outside, I was suddenly ashamed of my hyperventilating self. Since when was music too loud? Then I remembered all of the times I repeated that phrase from godknowshwere to my parents - you know the one: "If it's too loud, you're too old?"

My God - I'm too old?!?!

Somebody get me my shawl?