reminiscing

For the past two days I have watched graduation prep outside my office window.  The mowing of the grass, the painting of Cone Bottoms, the setting up of the stage and the beautiful white chairs.  In my job, I talk to students daily about my experience at Ouachita.  When I started, I would talk about freshmen year in terms of "a few years ago", but now I've officially had to move into the actual year talk.  I often forget that I started college 7 years ago, and graduated 3 years ago. When did that happen?  Working with college students has given me the false idea that I am still college age.  But watching the current seniors (hardly any of which I know) sit outside my office during graduation practice is bringing me to terms with the fact that I am growing up.  I have grown up. Basically the only students I know on campus are the ones I have recruited over the past 3 years.  These students graduating were, what, freshmen when I graduated? I have been married for almost 3 years. I will turn 25 in a few months. (hopefully) in a few years I will be a mother.  I have grown up. But a part of me, a small part of me, wishes I was sitting outside right now.  With the excitement of marriage and a new job just around the corner. That was a fun stage of life.  But there are plenty of fun stages of life ahead of me, and I am ready to begin anticipating them instead of reminiscing on those of the past. Look out future- ready or not, here I come.