Tempus Fugit

 I blinked and they were in school.

When a neighbor commented to me

after our son was born: “before you

know it, he’ll be in school.”

It sounded odd when she made

the comment.  I thought to myself that

she was simply jumping the gun so

to speak.  I had plenty of time before

he would be in school.  I blinked and

he was off to kindergarten.  How can that be?

When our daughter was born a few years

later, I still thought I had time until she

was in school.  Not so.  I blinked again

and soon school was in Germany this

time.  One entire year.  We had plenty

of time.  Not so.  I blinked again.

Several blinks of the eye later, we

were back in school in Germany.

One more year.  Plenty of time.

Not so.  I blinked again. Tempus fugit.

Hard as it may be to accept,

Our two children graduated high school

and college. A few more blinks

and they finished grad school,

moved away and worked in other

states.  How is that possible?  Did

I blink and forget the time?  It seems

to move slowly when we want it

to move quickly and vice versa.

I blinked and they married.  My

reflection in the mirror is now

older, wiser and more tired.

I delight telling new parents

holding their newborns to

watch out and remember not to blink.

Before they know it, their kids will be

in school too.  Time just seems to

fly all too quickly now.  Tempus fugit.

We cannot make it slow down so

blink, live and enjoy life to the fullest.