Remember that time when you thought growing up was taking too long and that it would never get there?
Your parents were old.. probably in their 30’s or 40’s and they
were ancient and just didn’t understand what is what like to be
a kid and want to do grown up things.
Your parents kept telling you not to grow up too quick, but
you didn’t want to listen…after all what did they know?
And then suddenly you are out of high school and you are 18
and you are an adult and all of the sudden life starts moving
really fast and then one day you start thinking back on memories.

Remember the time that you would go outside to play and get on the
swings and kick your legs as hard as you could to go as high as
you could. You were flying and it was exciting and you never
wanted it to end…that feeling of freedom.

Remember that time you were starting to like boys but you kinda
still looked like a boy because as your mother said…you were a
late bloomer…(didn’t even understand that one) it will come…but
you were impatient. And then when you finally did bloom; you
found yourself wondering if boys liked you for you or for your
blooms.

Remember that time you had your first real boyfriend and your
parents were not too happy. You thought they were being unfair
and that they should trust you. Turns out you should have
trusted them and maybe your heart would not have gotten broke
at a young age. Maybe you would not have made grown up choices
before you were ready…remember that time.

Remember that time you met the one and you were excited and in
love and in love with the idea of being in love. You brought
him home to meet your parents and family. He asked you to
marry him, put a ring on your finger, you bought a white dress,
rented the church and said very public I do’s.
Remember that time you were pregnant with your first child and
you still didn’t understand how parenthood would change you.
You called your mom up to tell her and she was excited. She
took you to all your doctors appointments. And then one day you
understood that a mothers job is never done. A car swerved in
front us and her first instinct was to throw her arm in front
of you. And then you understood.

Remember that time you realized you were watching your mother
pass away in front of your eyes and there was nothing you could
do. You were barely 22 and the woman you just learned to
appreciate could no longer speak, she could only use her eyes.
As you sat by her bed, a nurse said that you looked just like
her. You didn’t bother to tell her you were adopted, you just
smiled and said thank you thinking to yourself that you just
weren’t ready for what was happening but you were supposed to
be the strong one. And so everyday you were by her side until she
passed away before you could finish saying all the things you
wanted. Remember when I told you I wanted a new mom…I didn’t
mean it…when we argued over what I wanted to wear and you said
no and I snuck out the house anyway wearing the banned outfit…
you were right I was wrong.

Remember that time life was crazy and hectic and busy. You and
your husband were raising 3 sons and working and you were
going to school and life was full of loud chaos…and then one
day you were in the hospital having surgery that would change
your life forever. You just wanted to give up and die and
encouragement came from the strangest place…your father in law
who looked at you and said you were the strongest woman he knew
and that this would not defeat you. Remember that time you
picked up your despair and went on with life.

Remember that time you felt like your world was falling apart
when you father…your rock…your buddy was dying. You weren’t
prepared for this. You weren’t ready to let go of him too. But
you knew that you had to. You sat by his bed everyday. You
played Dean Martin music and made him laugh and then one day
he told you he loved you and those were the last words he spoke
to you. 3 days later, school ended..it was if he waited until you were
off and could take care of everything. The last thing you said to
him was it was ok to let go, we would be ok. Two hours later the
call came. He went home to be with your Mom and the rest of his
family.

Remember that time you thought you would never grow up and get
old and then one day you are 56 and the gut check moment comes
at 2 am. You have lived several lifetimes in one, your trips
around the sun will be less, and only now do you understand
that making memories are the most important thing….

But oh how you can still remember that time…on the swing…
flying high in the air as if growing up would never come.