Mommy, wow! Look who’s 20 now! I thought turning 10 was mind-boggling enough, knowing for the next 90 years I’d have a double digit age. My roommate just became the latest member of the unthinkable club: leaving the coveted teenage years for the adult age of 20. He’s well on his way to 30 and half the distance to 40 – middle age!

It can’t be!

While I’m just a little over two months away from being permanently older than all of the future No. 1 draft choices in the NBA, I’m starting to feel the side effects of getting older. I’m writing resumes and applying for jobs. When I go to the airport, I am the perfect single, tanned, 20-something male with a carry-on bag the Transportation Security Authority is just itching to give a full-body exam.

But unlike getting a license at 17 (woo-hoo New Jersey laws), earning the right to vote at 18 (0-1 in presidential elections) and, well, 19 offers nothing, an age of 20 or above completely epitomizes, typifies and embodies adulthood.

It really sucks – I’m not going to be able to buy a kid’s ticket at AMC Fenway. Shaving won’t cut it anymore.

In saying that though, does adulthood restrict my desire to buy an adult ticket to Wallace and Gromit? While the emotional and economic cost of higher reputations and expectations rise considerably with age, are our hobbies, desires and interests expected to elevate to higher echelons too?

I sure hope not.

Wallace and Gromit was one of the finest, funniest, most innovative and entertaining films I’ve seen since The Incredibles. While the only sophisticated part of the movie was its British humor, I wouldn’t let the threat of embarrassment stop me from taking my girlfriend to what I think is a fine date.

And guess what, all you party-goers and 21 wannabes – I took her to the Ringling Brothers Circus, too.

Think about how much fun you would have at the thought of eating snow cones out of little lion bowls or some popcorn out of the classic red-and-white-striped carton. Remember how amazed you were when you watched those guys on the flying trapeze? How about those times when you were stunned when four motorcycles circled around a woman in a metal cage? Can you imagine the joy of being entertained by spectacular cabarets of lions, horses and little puppies?

I can’t think of a better Saturday afternoon. What were you doing? Work?

I win.

Our good times didn’t stop there. Our next big adventure was perhaps the finest 80 minutes I’ve spent here in Boston – and I’m not even considering my journalism midterm. My girlfriend and I took a Boston City Duck Tour. We donned our sunglasses, got our cameras and headed out for an afternoon of driving around the city and boating through the Charles – in the same vehicle!

I could argue I learned more in that hour than I have in a few months of Applied Mathematics. I’ll just give you a sample: Boston isn’t creative enough to just have a coloºred subway system. The Green Line circles the parks, the Red Line passes the Harvard Crimson, the Blue Line goes under water and the Orange Line follows what was Orange Street.

Pretty interesting.

What were you doing that weekend afternoon? Studying for an exam days away?

I win. Again.

And why do I win? Well, I’ll concede a few things first. It’s not because I don’t care enough about work to sacrifice some quality time to study. You’re a diligent student and I respect that. But I’m going to take the accolades because I have the pride to have fun. I can’t say that I don’t appreciate a good Natural Ice or Miller High Life, because plenty of people have pictures to prove otherwise, but I refuse to let my birth certificate dictate what will enlighten my imagination and contrive what I know of as fun.

I applaud Warren Towers 7C for their upcoming NHL ’88 tournament to be played on the original Nintendo Entertainment System. I have high esteem for those who own DVDs of “Boy Meets World” and watch “Full House” on ABC Family. The original 11C-ers (and those honorable members) deserve tremendous praise for their wiffleball contests every Sunday. And look out – it’s coming to a club-sport schedule near you!

I can’t say I’m going to go see Disney On Ice or Sesame Street Live anytime soon, but I will spend a rainy day watching Cool Runnings and playing Candyland with friends who know the true value of a really good time.

Pass the chocolate milk, please.