My next thought wiped the smile off my face. That was 20 years ago. I have been able to vote for 20 years! Gulp!
It gets worse. I next realized that while I'll be 20 years away from 18 this summer, Brianna will be only 10 years away from it. Whoa!
Sobering yes, though not depressing. I don't feel old yet. But still...
11 comments:
Ah, the magic number 18... Harley is 7 from it this November. It's not fair, it's too fast!
I was just with a friend this weekend who said to me, "I'm re-reading Love in the Time of Cholera. I read it a long time ago...it was ten years ago. No, wait, it must have been more like fifteen years ago because I was living in...Oh, my God. It was twenty years ago!"
I've had those moments too. There seems to be something about hitting the vicinity of 40 and realizing you did something 20 years ago and you were a grownup then. I graduated from college 21 years ago. Whoa.
My first presidential election was the historic Geraldine Ferraro for VP election. It seems sort of quaint now that we thought it was such a big deal for a woman to be running.
Ha, I think I'm just starting to get to that point where things happened longer ago than I think. My 10-year high school reunion is next year ... yikes!!!
My first election had Reagan and Carter as choices. That seems like a lifetime ago and it practically was. ; )
Su, I think you've hit it. You grow up hearing adults say, "Gosh, that was 20 years ago!" and until you are 35 or 40, they're referring to things you don't remember at all or only vaguely. So when 20 years ago begins to include your own adult-hood, it's a bit of a shock! I wonder if we'll have a similar experience when we are 65-70, and the phrase "50 years ago" starts to bring back memories!
Laura (northcoastcouple), Yup, it starts with the 10 year reunion, lol!
Oh Hawaiian, I remember that election. You probably don't want to know how old I was though! ;o)
It's not true. There's no way our kids will be 10 years away from 18. Nope. No way.
(Off I go to hide in my closet, pouting).
=)
I was first able to vote in that election, too. And I was just invited to my 20th high school reunion. WHEN did twenty years happen??!
*sigh*
Sometimes I say to my fifth grade students, things like "When I was growing up we girls had to wear dresses to school every day!" Or I might illustrate something we study by sharing experiences I had, like the "White Only" sign in my laundromat when I lived in Mississippi. They almost cannot believe me, because these events *are* 40-50 years ago. That should be my grandparent talking!!
So, Young One, in answer to your question: YES, damn it!! The phrase 50 years ago will trigger memories! And all one can do is wonder, "HOW did that happen??!"
Love,
Mom
*GASP!* Mom! You said "damn it!" I'll need therapy now, you know. ;o)
It IS all sobering, isn't it? Now I'm depressed...!
I freaked out a little when she said "damn it" too.
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