Life in the Slow Lane

A few years ago while talking with my mom, I made mention to her that even though our home no longer has 7 people living here my life seems just as busy. My list of things to do gets longer and longer and is accomplished, it seems, at a snail's pace. Being the type of mom that tells you like it is, my mom said to me, "Rondi, your life isn't busier, you are just slowing down because you are older and it takes you longer to get things done." Obviously, that was not the answer I was looking for. If she had told me, "our lives are always busy, filled with so many important things to do", I could have handled that response. But, getting older? No way!!!

We have been home from vacation now for 5 days. My routine after coming home from vacation was always, unpack the car, unpack the suitcases, cooler, basket of goodies, etc., etc. As I type, I am staring at the suitcases in my bedroom that are still sitting there partially unpacked and needing to go back in the closet. Contemplating what my mom said, could she be right? Am I older and moving slower at the ripe old age of 54? Or could it be my perspective on life, that no matter how old we get our lives are still filled with many things to get done and not enough time to do it? Maybe my life is not filled with the daily routine of raising 5 children and a husband. Yes I do believe we have to treat our husbands as little children and take care of all their needs. They are products of overwhelming attention by their mothers and the job doesn't change, just the person who takes on the responsibility. I am guilty as charged. Every mother is guilty of pampering their children, even taking on responsibilities that they themselves should have done. Therefore, the cycle continues. Our sons marry and a woman takes over the job of taking care of them. We marry and take on the job that was handled for years by a doting mother. The older the male species gets, the slower they move and the responsibilities shift to the doting wife rather than the doting mother.

I like to think that my life is still full of things that need to get done and there are not enough hours in the day to get them all accomplished. Having to admit I am moving slower because of rickety joints and flabby muscles just doesn't cut it for me. Therefore, I will get off of this computer chair and run to my suitcases and get the job done. Yes, I can still run. OK, well maybe not as fast as I used to. Maybe my mom is right!!!