> Does anyone else here have the regular experience of having their age grossly mistaken? If so, does it bother you, and if so, how do you deal with it?

Umm, well, actually...erm...in a way, yes. When I was just about to have my 16th birhtday (I'm 17 now), I was in Bi-Mart (a discout store). Anyways, my mother was with me, and she mentioned to the clerk that it was almost my birthday. The lady looked at me and, being totally naive and honest, she asked me, "So, are you finally going to become a teenager?" I could have died. I've been told before that I look younger than my age, but that was ridiculous. I looked at her and, trying to remain polite, I said, "Erm, well, no. I'm going to be 16, actually." Looking at me, she said with disbelief in her voice, "REALLY?! Oh, honey, I'm sorry. I was just kidding." She wasn't. Kidding, I mean. People don't mention my age much, but when they think I'm younger than I really am, it doesn't bother me too much. I can't help the way I look. I had to show I.D. at Blockbuster in order to buy an R-rated movie, which was pretty sad, since the clerk looked about as young as people think I am. Hmm...how do I deal with it? Generally, I try to go about the whole "looking young" thing humorously. I try not to let it get to me, since those people don't know any better. I'm really bad at judging how old people are, anyway, so I can't really blame them.

~Den-"hmm...since people think I look so young NOW, I bet when I'm 40 people will think I look 30...SWEET!"Kara