Even though we are all aware we are getting older, there are times in life where you really feel it. Maybe it’s when you pull your back reaching for a cup of coffee. Or you get up to turn off the bathroom light and realize it’s the sun… it’s not even dark yet. (Guilty.) Or maybe, it’s learning that “smash” no longer means “break into tiny pieces.”
On this week’s Laugh Lines, we asked for your calls, and you delivered the kind of real-life stories that make us laugh so hard we almost had to reach for the ibuprofen. This includes learning what “smash” means. Heather called in to share that, after finding snack wrappers on her lawn, she lost her cool and shouted to a group of teen boys, “If you don’t stop, I’m gonna smash you!” She was met with horrified silence… not because they feared her mom strength (and they should) but because “smash” apparently means something very different to Gen Z. Spoiler: It’s not about breaking anything. (Think of the game: Smash or Pass. You get the picture.)
Nine Inch Nails Aren’t Actual Nails
All of your stories had me thinking about how aging sneaks up on us in the funniest ways. It’s not just the laugh lines on your face—it’s realizing the slang you grew up with has been repurposed, the music that shaped your youth is now a trivia question, and compliments arrive in a language you barely understand.
There was Dan, a millennial who casually mentioned Nine Inch Nails to a younger co-worker—only to be asked if he meant actual nails for a hammer. (A band that defined an era of grunge and angst, and somewhere out there is an entire generation that thinks Trent Reznor is a guy at Home Depot.) Then there was Elle, who got called a “smoke show” at her son’s wedding. Instead of feeling flattered, she assumed it was an insult. (No Elle, it means you are hot.)
Our Own Secret Club
But here’s the thing: I love that we get to laugh about it together. I love that Penn and I can admit we’re confused by half of what our kids say, that we can swap “back in my day” stories with you all, and that sometimes—just sometimes—we find out that being older comes with its own kind of cool. (Like actually knowing who Nine Inch Nails is.)
So here’s to getting older and embracing the moments that remind us we’re not 25 anymore. (Even if part of us still thinks we are.) Listen to the show and call in to tell us your best getting older story! Also enjoy our chat about Weird Al and Penn (maybe) getting canceled. We’re glad you’re here.
