Punchy Protagonist

I recently went on a trip with my fabulous mother, the point of which was attending a festival in honor of her favorite playwright. Part of this was the showing of a movie based on one of his plays starring the great Paul Newman. The screen, of course, was huge and I watched Paul's extremely blue eyes flit with emotion, dramatic and vulnerable at times, all while remaining rugged and statuesque, with a jaw line that could cut a pizza and eyes that will maybe any woman a puddle on the floor...and have I mentioned that smile? I digress. My thoughts drifted to other roles I had seen Mr. Newman in, and it posed this question: Why don't they make men like Paul Newman anymore? I know he's an actor that plays parts, but like any good artist, there's a little of himself in all his characters, whether good or bad. He delivered his lines almost like a poet, and with such ease. He was not only handsome, but talented with an ere of sophistication and charm coupled with a bright...

My question for today: Who decided your 20's was the magic age where you had to have everything figured out? Get a degree. Get a job. Move out of your parents'. Find "the one." I'm sure this is written in some ancient book like "The Southern Gentleman and Lady's Guide to Living and Frying Food," but come on. As much as I love the South, as much as I could never see living anywhere else, I have this suspicion that this dynamic is more prevalent below the Mason-Dixon Line. Once you are out of college (or in my hometown's case sometimes, high school) you must go out and immediately find your purpose in life. This package deal, of course, will come with a shiny new car, your own wonderfully decorated apartment or house with no repairs needed, a college degree in something that will ensure you a job, and of course a God-fearing, church-going, never-cussing, trophy wife/husband (and, of course, all before you hit 30). This, however, is not the...