05 Dec Ho-Ho-How’d We Get Here?

It’s the end of 2006 and I’m baffled. Where did the time go? I feel like I’m just getting into the groove of 2006. Like there should be about six more months of 2006. Why is it time passes so quickly when you’re an adult?

I remember aching for time to pass when I was a kid. The hours from Christmas Eve to Christmas morning ticked by like honey stuck in the jar. Why, now, does it fly at the speed of sound? (I barely finished Christmas shopping this year!)

I think it boils down to responsibilities. When I was a kid, my days were relatively care free. I was free as soon as school was out and my homework was done. Right now, I have little free time. My days (and nights) are filled and my tasks are never complete. I get up, wake the kids, feed the kids and take them to school, go to work, come home, help the kids with homework, fix dinner, attend or participate in school, church or community events, get the kids ready for bed, then pay bills, clean the house, call or visit family and friends, and somehow figure out how to save some money for college. There’s not enough time in the day.

And it’s not because of my “perfectionist” tendencies either. Even if I was fine with doing an “adequate” job when it came to my work, home and kids, my days would still be filled. There’s just THAT MUCH to do.

But I’m thankful for that. I’m thankful that I have wonderful kids, a comfortable (if needy) home and a demanding job. I am thankful that I love what I do. And doubly thankful for those I do it for. Because even when I feel like I can’t keep up, I’m learning a lot from the race. And the only certainty in life is that the race will someday end.

When I’m sitting in the nursing home at 95, I imagine time will slow down once again. My family will be raised. My career will be past. And my biggest responsibility will be managing a regular bowel movement. I imagine I’ll watch the hands on the clock waiting for the hour when lunch will be served. And the highlight of my day will be when someone I love manages to carve out the time to visit me.

So while I hesitate to leave 2006, I welcome the responsibilities of 2007. After all, I will always be thankful for another lap in the race.