I agree with you on the "blank spot" issue the more I think about it. I don't currently have any on my resume so adding one by my own choosing in order to give greater focus to my career path and passion for what I do should be an easy explanation.

As for my pride, when I wrote that comment I had in mind doing an unpaid internship alongside recent college graduates. I'd inevitably feel old in that scenario but you're right, it would help me determine if that path is still one I want to go down and is low-risk/commitment. Thank you for the feedback Dave.