Time Banditry

Dear Maria,

Glad to hear all is well, and as for me, I am easing along with spring’s progress. Of course, as I have said, should I complain, I should at the very least be smacked upside the head. Repeatedly.

Thanks for sending along the article that suggested the potential for a child today to live to 140 perhaps. A staggering thought—and a red flag raised that as with inequality in wealth, we might witness an inequality in lifespans and resource usage that worsens divides that plague us now.

I had the good fortune to have lunch with friends in town for a whirlwind visit as part of their spring break from the schools where they work. They were very gracious and good company, and I truly was appreciative of them spending some of their limited time with me.

More and more I have come to feel very grateful for folks spending off-duty time with me. Now that I am so unencumbered, I see how generous it is for others who are working, raising, families, and trying to meet their own needs to allow some time for a visit with me.

Recently, I confessed that when I worked I was fiercely selfish with my off-duty hours, even with those who were working. Sort of “my time trumps your time” thinking. Very misguided, and disastrous to a number of relationships. Like I said, selfish.

I’ve heard from a few friends that my yapping about time of late has mirrored their heightened awareness of time’s speedy pace forward. Sort of like when students would tell me that they were suddenly seeing a vocabulary word everywhere—or, were no longer skipping over it when reading. That always made me laugh.

My perception of time is changed only in the sense of pace, mine being slower of course even as the arrow forward is still fast, fast, fast. I, too, think it shouldn’t be coming on two years retired, or a child I know can’t be three, or even with Max. Yesterday he turned three. I reminded him that he had until five to become a perfect dog, and that clock is ticking. His response was, well, muzzled.

So, I no longer have a count of days—time measured—to the AP Exam, the last day for seniors, the last day of school. Sunrises come, sunsets follow, and time here and there with family and friends. With gratitude.

Finally, by the way, some leaf appearing on the Chinese elm. In its own time, I suppose. Got a message that I can start a little earlier on a yard chore for some friends. Time waits? No, ma’am.

Be well, and enjoy.

Yours, srk