Time
By Judy
It is the beginning of another new year. I’m not sure what
happened to the last year. When I was five, time passed slowly, but it has
picked up speed over the years. When I
was forty, time moved at a pretty good clip. My hair is now a natural silver
shade, and I feel like I am barely hanging on as each day rushes to nighttime.
It seemed I used to wait about three years for Christmas to come. Now the
period of time from one Christmas to another seems no longer than three short
weeks.
Another thing about time I don’t understand is why it
passed at a snail’s pace while I was pregnant, but sped by at the speed of
sound for a loan payment due at the bank the same day as the baby was due. It
seemed, too, the period of time between paydays was shorter than the period of
time between house payments.
How come an hour eating a good meal is shorter than an hour
cleaning the kitchen? The time waiting on the first snow of the season speeds
by faster than the time I spend waiting on the last snow of the season. Time I
spend cleaning closets crawls slowly by while time spent shopping or playing
bridge moves faster than a speeding train.
I
was happy when all my children learned to tell time as I thought our family
would finally get to school or even church on time. Silly me.
“Turn the television off now, it’s time to go,” I
announced.
“Wait, I just want to see the end of Tom and Jerry,” a child answered. Speaking of time, does Tom and
Jerry ever end? Hasn’t it been on
forever?
“Does anyone know where I left my shoes?” another child
asked.
“Yes,” I answered. “Right inside the door. Next time, could you put them to the side of
the doorway and not directly in it?” There was not a reply to my question.
At last, though, the family was in the car. Of course, each
kid made several trips back to the house. After all, it is hard to get books,
coats, hats, scarves, gloves, and gym clothes gathered up and out to the car on
the first trip. There was one last trip back to the house for
homework. I counted the kids, one, two, three, and four. Yes, it was time to
go.
“Wait….” Has anyone seen my car keys?
Apparently time doesn’t change everything. I still
often can’t find my car keys.