Went to visit the Lincoln Tomb today, before a huge test for my carrer, and LET. ME. TELL. YOU.

There was this old man (but not elderly) who talked to me in a belittling manner. I was offended a bit because; (A) I'm a woman that can read, I know my Lincoln fact, thank YOU very much; (B) I'm 21 now. Come. On. Dude. I'm a woman!!! I know you're my elder but why are you speaking to me that way? (C) I'm latina.... is it a race thing????

And of course, I would never fire back at him or make a rude comment, but I kind of nodded my head and dismissed it as just him being an old guy who really wants to break down his Lincoln-Info in a simple manner for everyone to understand. (I was there with 2 of my peers, one of whom is 28, the other whom is 22, but they already were in the next section of the burial site)

Just as I'm about to step into the next area away from Lincoln's tomb, he tells me (straight eye contact) 'Lincoln's son was 18 when he died!'

At that point all I'm thinking *yes...i know this because I can do math. And read the tombstone along the wall*

BUT GET THIS. He asks me hold old I am. Harmless question. He didn't say it in a creepy way, but I already know where this was going...

'21' I say. And he takes a step back. "TWENTY ONE?? MY YOU HOLD YOUR YEARS WELL!!! I THOUGHT YOU WERE ALL OF FOURTEEN!"

That's right.....

....He thought I was 14.

*F O U R T E E N.*

At that point I'm tired, and I just want to not have to go through this again. But he tells me what they all tell me. When I'm older I'll be grateful for my young looking genetics.

To that I said "Til then...." implying THIS would continue to be a conversation for me. No new opinions from strangers. They're all the same. Little ol' me looks 14.

Lovely.

***Update: I wasn't legitimately upset. I was just frustrated at that point in time by people belittling me because I look like I'm years younger than I am. Which is understandable on their end... they probably have never met a 21 year old who looks so young, BUT. And this may be just me, it gets tiresome after so many years of reassuring people that YES, I am my own age.***