You know how when you hear a song from the past and it instantly transports you to a place and time that might be monumental to your life’s lessons? I just had that happen. Where did I get transported? The salad bar at Towson State University. And it wasn’t even a good song: “Take these broken wings” by Mr. Mister? WTH?
There I am with my bangs spiked up in an epic wave, wondering who dropped the chopped egg in the sunflower seeds. I feel ripped off. You’d think the flashback would be something sexier, like the first time my roommate Susan and I snuck into a bar. Or the time I tossed a university camera over a bridge in film class (It was rigged with nylon rope and didn’t get damaged at all.) Instead, I got the flashback equivalent of taking out the trash.
The flashback came with breathtaking panic that everyday moments like that have zipped by and I didn’t notice them. I am terrified I flew through college, working, being a mom and everything else, only now to realize maybe I should have paid more attention or taken a hot minute to appreciate something other than a deadline.
The fact that my oldest is in his senior year is a wake-up call for sure. How did that happen so fast? So I decide today’s the day to slow down. I pop Trader Joe’s sweet potato fries in the oven, turn around, and they’re done. “That was not 22 minutes!” I squawk to Brian. He says it just seems fast because our oven works now. The other one was from 1990.
I go to the mailbox, inhale the aromas of needles from the redwoods and carefully thumb through each letter. That’s when I see it – the AARP letter. “Mother&^*er!” I yell out loud. Why am I the only one in this household getting marketed by the AARP? Do they think they’re running out of time to convert me? How is Brian evading their demographics? I don’t want a stupid cooler. I want tickets to The Rolling Stones before they’re gone. I’ll bet they don’t take the AARP up on their free coolers.
“Take these broken wings” my ass. Enough of taking a moment to breathe. I’ve got shit to do. We’re going on a trip together while we can still walk, and we’re not taking that stupid cooler. Have a great couple of weeks, and I’ll catch you when we’re back. With any luck, we will not get back early.
If you’ve experienced freakishly fast time, let me know I’m not alone. Love hearing from you guys.
jacki kane 
I’ve been getting AARP mail for a few years! So know you’re not alone. Burn it and go do something fun! Here’s a good article about time speeding up as we get older: https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2019/no-not-just-time-speeds-get-older/
Time to plan another roomie reunion to help with this!