I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the passage of time. Why is it that as I get older, time seems to move by at an accelerating rate? I’ve been wondering: is it just me, or do others sitting here in the middle-aged cheap seats feel the same way?
Most research seems to suggest that my perceptions of time have a lot to do with where I am in my life cycle AND what increment of time I am measuring. In time perception studies, adults in mid-life [MOI!] report that the hours and days pass at what seems to be a normal speed; it is the YEARS that seem to streak past us (see Aging and the Speed of Time ). I can attest that these years have flown by much too quickly.
I am sure that my current musings have something to do with where I will be tomorrow: my son’s college graduation. I honestly feel like it was just yesterday that he joined me in this world; a beautiful young soul who has shared with me far more than I will ever be able to teach him. I blinked: and here he is now, about to finish under-graduate and start graduate school in the Fall. How is this possible? My chest still tightens as I recall college drop-off day – him walking through the dorm door and out of sight and me believing with all my heart that I would not survive leaving him there. How can it be four years later??
Photo accessed via http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/ 10053446
It does seem that time is beginning to catch up with me; what is it they say?…
It’s not the years baby; it’s the mileage.
I used to think I could get away with shaving a few years off my age and it not being completely unbelievable. And, yes, I’ve been known to lie a little about my age (see Don’t I Look Great … For Sixty?! ). However, recent passing glimpses in the mirror have me pondering: “Wow, I really can’t pass for even five years younger than I am.” Vanity aside, the years have brought some wisdom and a lot of laughs; I just wish things would slow down a bit.
I do love this quote from the great Albert Einstein regarding the passage of time:
“Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour.
Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That’s relativity.”
What about you: how are you feeling about time – moving too quickly as we mature?
Cheers,
Kimba
PS: please indulge a little shout out to my son Jimmy – so proud of you darlin’; tomorrow and EVERY day!
I have not checked in here for a while since I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
Jacs, your Ashley Tisdale quote resonated with me all day yesterday – I sure was collecting memories as fast as I could!! Thanks for sharing.
Gosh, Kimba, Can't believe it's Friday again!!!
Hope you had a wonderful Graduation with Jimmy – More memories in the (speedy) passage of time!! Time goes so fast as we get older and have benchmarks like children, nieces, nephews to measure it by.
Those carefree endless days of childhood seem so long ago, but just a reminder can bring them back so fast, just like your photo of Jimmy as a baby.
Loved your Einstein quote:
here's one I like
"Time flies, but the memories collected on the way can never be replaced" ….
…..Ashley Tisdale
Jacs 🙂
AH ! I am turning 35 this month. And I think the years are flying by! Does that count? What does that say about me? Lordy, I don't have kids to blame it on but I still feel I can relate. I am not generally mistaken for a 34year old though. None of the women in my family look their age. In fact just yesterday my 71 year old mother and I were laughing as she was questioned about her qualifying for a seniors discount 😉 I will not lie, THAT part I love being a part of.
Kate, if your Mom has half your energy, I can see why someone would question her senior discount status!!
Well first things first, congratulations to you and your son Jimmy on his graduation. I don't have children of my own, but many of my friends children are as precious to me as if they were. Recently I was shopping and heard my name called – deep manly voice I didn't recognize. "Aunt Marty!" Turned out to be one of those children – I'd been there to see him moments after he came into the world, and now he's a young man in the Marines, towering over me at a little over 6ft tall. Hard to find something to say in moments like that. As far as time – yes, the years do seem to fly by, but I work at making the most of each day, so I'm pretty happy with where I am at the moment. Thanks for the inspiration!
Your Aunt Marty story is great! I distinctly remember coming downstairs one morning and there was a grown man standing in my kitchen in his boxers: drinking coffee; reading the paper; and needing to shave. My son's reaction: "Mom, why are you crying?"
Ahh the passage of time. I swear that, even though my body is 40 years old, I am only 17! It's funny when my son's friends look at me like I'm weird because I forget I'm the mom!
Time is so relative. Sometimes it's bittersweet and others I'm glad the moments have moved on, even if it felt forever while it was happening.
I love your writing style! Congrats to your son. He got there because of a great mom!
Me too; I forget all the time I'm the Mom! LOL, even jumped into a game of "flip cup" with Jimmy's college buds last night at the graduation party. The nice part is that he's old nough now to think it's cool instead of embarrassing!
Yes Kimba, I get the same feeling. The years just fly by sometimes I think wow where did that month, let alone the years. Why I must see every day asa gift 🙂
I'm really working on appreciating every day, not just the milestones!
I love that Einstein quote, it really puts it into perspective!
Congratulations to all involved! well done!
Before I turned fifty, I would tel people I had three daughters, two in college and they would say, "How is that possible!? You're too young to have children that age!. You don't look old enough!"
The moment I turned fifty I would tell people about my college age daughters and through their nods and blank stares would say, "Yeah, that's about right. Nothing remarkable about that."
Fifty was an amazing demarcation. Now that I'm 12 years passed that, Lord knows what they would say. So I don't ask.
LOL – yeah I'm starting to get a lot of that…. "yeah, that's about right." I would LOVE to hear about life in the sixth decade!
I think it's our kids that make us feel this way the most. As my eldest is 16 in November I look at this beautiful young woman who now has a boyfriend (eek) and yes, feel that I blinked. As I am a soppy mum your post made me cry. Enjoy this marvelous day xx
I am sorry I made you cry Louise! Yesterday's events were wonderful – your daughter has many adventures ahead of her! Good luck with that boyfriend :-).
Shout out to your sweet Jimmy! Yes, the years are flying by, especially when relativity is factored in the time table. I can really feel it when I have one solid day off of work…..I wake up in the morning thinking I have all of this time and then, BOOM, it's over.
Suzanne, sometimes I feel like I enter a time warp – especially when I am writing. Wake up in the morning, get to work, and all of the sudden Greg is home from work!
Congratulations to both mother and son for this incredible milestone. I believe it was Robert Browning who said, "Grow old with me, the best is yet to be." I know that Jimmy learned from the best, to treasure every moment. Have a wonderful weekend and have one toast to the past, and two for the future!! xoxo
We had a "few" toasts this weekend – each one heartfelt.