What’s in a number?

I got sober when I was 18; I’m now about to turn 39. I find myself cringing when someone asks me how long I’ve been sober, or when we share our sober dates in a meeting. The reason is because I know what’s usually coming: “Oh, wow! that’s amazing. Did you get sober when you were 12?” Or sometimes I get, “Man, I wish I were as smart as you at that age.”