Sweet 16-year-olds

It's Tuesday night, and we're both still recovering from our super social weekend:

Thursday night: M. Ward concert with a bunch of 16-year-olds. Friday night: Pioneer Day party with a bunch of 16-year-olds. Saturday night: Yaks concert with a bunch of 16-year-olds. Sunday: Creed's mission farewell, where there were not very many 16-year-olds except for the one who spoke for TWENTY MINUTES about the stupid stake youth trek where everything was "so hard" because he had a "rash" and after walking all day, he "had to" go to a dance. (I'm sure Brigham Young was rolling over in his grave.)

Anyway, the point is, we love 16-year-olds.

Well, not all 16-year-olds. In fact, as a general rule, I think we find 16-year-olds pretty annoying. They are always text-messaging and making sophomoric jokes and listening to the Jonas Brothers.

No, the 16-year-olds we hang out with are an elite bunch, and by most accounts, they are cooler than we are. They are of the "post-indie" generation-- the kids who have not only rejected the corporate fads and the spoon-fed pop, but who have rejected the notion of rejecting those things simply for the sake of being unique or different. They are witty, funny, well-read and, well, cool.

If it sounds like I'm trying to convince myself that Annie and I are not complete social outcasts, well... I probably am.

But if you've ever been a young newlywed, you know how hard it can be to find worthwhile social activities to fill your free time. A lot of your single friends don't want to hang out with you because they can only stand so much marriedness before they burst into lonely tears. And you don't always want to hang out with other married couples because, well, you can only stand so much marriedness before you want to throw up.

We have been lucky, of course, to find a small group of friends with whom we all seem to share mutual enjoyment in each others' company. And when they aren't available, I know I can always call up my little brother Tagg and see what his friends are doing.