Just yesterday I was writing down an appointment date and I
had to remember it was not in 2022 but rather in 2023 and it’s only about three
months away.
So I’m sitting here astonished, yet again, at how fast the
time does go by. Looking back on my life and the memories I have and realizing
they weren’t yesterday, last week, last month, or even last year.
The pandemic hit over two years ago and 911 was 21 years
ago. Other major events that I can remember are things like Regan being elected
and the time he was shot at. Or Nixon resigning. I can still remember what I
was feeling and thinking when all my classmates were cheering President Carter
getting elected and I was off to the side thinking that President Ford was given
a short shift simply because he was associated with Nixon, yet he was a good
man.
And yes, I admire President Carter too. I probably would not
own my home without him. If not for his friendship with the Fullers Habitat for
Humanity might not be the worldwide organization that it is today and I
therefore would probably not have my home.
And then it wasn’t long ago (of course that could mean two
years ago) that I was looking at a picture depicting the long movie lines
waiting to go see the brand-new release of STAR WARS. While the picture was not
taken in my hometown it still clearly represented the era and I could just
envision the line I stood in as a teenager myself so that I could get my first
chance to see that spectacular movie. It boggles my mind that was 45 years ago.
Not to mention, the Bicentennial was 46 years ago and I can remember that celebration
too.
I can also remember the joy I got watching Star Trek back
when I was in grade school. And those were repeats because I was eight by then
and it went off the air when I was seven. And yes, I’m still a fan. It’s
possible to love both a Star Trek fan and a Star Wars fan.
Then there are more personal events that seem like yesterday
and they aren’t.
Things like I finally finished my bachelor's degree five
months ago. The last time I had to drive any of my kids to school was three and
a half years ago. My oldest grandbaby will be four soon which means my daughter
has already celebrated her fifth anniversary. My mother has been gone for 15
years and my Dad for 20. My youngest is not only 21 now, but he’ll be 22 in
less than six months. Of course, my oldest child is now 31, has been married
for over 5 years, and has two daughters. Which just reminds me I’ve been
married for 32 years. Seriously, it flies so fast that I have to calculate it.
But what I’m thinking about today is those specific events that
happened well yesterday, just 23 years ago. I can remember getting dropped off
at my doctor’s and expecting it to be just an hour or so. It was after all just
a check-up on my baby who was due sometime between Christmas and New Year’s. What
ended up happening is the doctor admitted me so he could induce me the next
morning (as in today, 23 years ago). (I still say there was nothing wrong with
my baby, he just didn’t want to be called in over his Christmas break.)
So yea, I’m thinking about that precious baby born 23 years
ago today, my oldest son, Tony. Oh and the fact that brat doesn’t want to me to
celebrate it with him, after all, he’s not a baby anymore.
Happy birthday anyway, Tony.
Smile. Make the day a brighter day.
