Adulthood

Adulthood is not an age, it's a feeling. I didn't automatically feel adult when I was 16... 18... 21...
It's not even big events, like learning how to drive or getting married.
it's the little things that make you stop and say, "Oh my... I'm an adult!"

Polishing your won silver for the first time
Getting your own invitation to the family Christmas party
Getting Christmas cards addressed to you rather than to "and family"
Cleaning your own bathroom for the first time
Getting an invitation to a childhood friend's wedding
Having your parents over to your place for Thanksgiving dinner
Wearing a suit to work
You start to find ironing... soothing... and somewhat... enjoyable
Teenagers view you as the enemy
When you need to send mail certified return receipt
When you have inportant documents to protect
When you remember vinyl records, and your co-worker doesn't
Filling out your first joint tax return
Contemplating buying a house

And there is the occasional big event that leaves your hands shaking and the same words in your mouth...

When you pay rent for the first time
When you buy your first car, all by yourself
When you have a child... you're not a child anymore.