Walking through Waikiki is always an auditory (as well as visual) experience, so the locals tend to tune out most of the sounds around them. For the most parts, it’s a plethora of “look at the rainbow” and “will you hurry up, we’re on vacation!” statements from harried families and excited throngs of vacationeers. Harmless enough.

Today, as we made our way through Kapahulu just past the Waikiki Zoo, a trio of young ladies in their VERY early teens were at the bus stop chatting away. What made them visibly noticeable was the fact that they all had just their bathing suits on, and nothing else. Now, this being Hawaii, and especially Waikiki, this should be of no big deal. However, echoes of my mother nagging my sister and I about public cleanliness, and the virtues of ensuring as little contact with public SEATS when we are in our wet bathing suits brought back amusing arguments in my head. Countless discussions about germs, bus seats, and public toilets. And as we walked passed the trio of teens, this statement was uttered by one of them (I edited out the gratuitous use of the word “like” to spare you):

” I wish I could grow up already, you know?”

(other two in solemn, nodding agreement)

My brain started to process this in a frenzy. Grow up already. My goodness! How often I had heard this as a young man … “Why don’t you grow up?” my mother would ask in a frustrated voice, talking to no one in partocular, and expecting an answer from no one in this existential plane. It was merely a statement of frustration. As an adult, it became taboo to utter this at someone unless you were looking for an all out argument, or looking to end any and all possibility of conversation with a person, ever. “Grow up!” was something you threw at someone as you walked away, and usually for good. But this was different. She was wishing for it now. She wanted to grow up now, and with the gentle agreement reserved for funerals and weddings, her two cohorts agreed in nodding silence as if all were understood.

As an adult, growing up is something we have been told to do … obviously a choice in the matter, since we refuse to do it at some point or at some occassions. As a young adult, it is something that we have been prevented from doing, and must endure some rite of passage before we are granted the permission – and recognition – of “grown up” stature. Often times, it is with much dismay that I feel like a child pretending to be a grown up. I say and do inappropriate things, I guffaw and laugh too loudly, often at the “wrong” times. I relate to things that people in the board meetings would roll their eyes at if they knew.

And if I could, I would very quickly resign from the ranks of grown ups. I wanted to say this to the trio of teens, but the split secind my brain processed all this, it also told me that nosy old guy at bus stop garners little respect or credibility at this point. Walk on old man, walk on!

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