Winter Break

Yesterday I had an hour to kill after my appointments so I decided to go to Panera to have some soup and do some paperwork.  I found a nice little spot in a plush chair right next to the outlet so I could plug my computer in and work at a leisurely pace. 

When I got there, I could not believe how crowded it was.  I mean, it was almost 2:00 in the afternoon - where did all these people come from?  Usually at that time of day the only people you see are stay-at-home moms trying to kill some time with their toddlers by stuffing them full of home-made cookies and milk or people like me who don't work in an office but would like someplace other than home to get some work done.

As I looked around I realized what was going on.  A majority of the Panera patrons were obviously college students - and it dawned on me that college students are still . . . on . . . Winter . . . Break.  A wave of nostalgia rushed over me.  I've gotten so used to the school-age children's winter break (a little over a week long) that I'd completely forgotten that when you're in college, winter break means having a whole month off.  A long glorious month with nothing to do but catch up with friends, lounge around at home while mom feeds you, maybe work a few hours at a holiday job to make some extra bucks.  I felt like standing up and shouting "Do you realize how LUCKY you are???"

As I watched these college students mingling, laughing, tossing their hair, I started to feel really old.  Then I was struck by the horrible realization that in about 8-10 years, my son Jack could be one of these college students, meeting up with his high school buddies at Panera, talking about their exploits and their plans for the following summer.  Talk about feeling ancient - I tore myself away from all the youthful exuberance that surrounded me and quickly resumed typing away on my computer.

I remember being in college and feeling like things would always be the way they were at that time.  I couldn't possibly change, grow older, lose interest in partying til 4 a.m.  No way!  But here I am - suddenly I'm in my forties (aaaaack!) - what happened?

Life happened and most of it has been good.  I might not be 20-something anymore but I have a lot to look forward to and a lot of great things to look back on.  I think that's called being content.  I like it.