Reminiscing

Today I felt older.

Not older, as in wrinkled skin, gray hair, aging old..... but older as in I felt like I'd seen a thing or two.

Today was the start of the Fall semester at MSU. There was an electricity in the air- the type that you associate with Autumn. The parking lot was packed- as it is every Fall. And then by October it's died down as many have changed their minds about college. The lines were endless- people standing in line at the bookstore, people standing in line to get their I.D. made..... and so on....

I couldn't help but chuckle as the new students we brimming over with excitement- but nervous at the same time. They were chatting about what degree they were perusing, what their schedule was like, and which class they had next.

To them, it was all brand new and exciting. To me, it had lost it's luster many semesters ago.

Here are some numbers.....

• This is my 16th first day of a new semester....
• 5 years ago I was starting my second semester as premed.... in Birmingham... on a completely different road in life- both spiritually and physically.
  
• This is the fifth degree I've started on- three of which I've achieved. (I decided against pre-med after two semesters).
  
• This degree will the the 4th one hanging on my wall....

Let's just say that when it comes to college, I've seen a thing or two. I know the ins and outs sometimes better than I know myself. So, standing there amidst the buzz of the new students, I felt older....experienced...outdated.

I sat in denial for a good half hour.

Has it really been 5 years since I graduated high school and started summer classes at UAB....

Has it really been 5 years since I was walking the campus of UAB, living in my own apartment, carefree...... utterly spoiled beyond what should be acceptable.

Has it really been almost 5 years since I felt God calling me to teach... I remember that November day as if it were yesterday- the day I decided to move back home and pursue teaching..... longing for the life I now live.

Has it really been 3 years since I was at MCC taking classes full time- all the while working the evening/night shift at Anderson's Hospital... getting only 4 hours of sleep and seeing my husband only on weekends....

Has it really been almost 3 years since I graduated with my associate's degree- and thought I knew it all.....

Has it really been 2 1/2 years since my first day at MSU- I was scared to death.....

Has it really been 1 year since I graduated with my bachelor's, started my master's, smiled for days after I accepted a job teaching kindergarten.... the summer I turned a corner in life.

Has it really been that long?

So, tonight I started on my Educational Specialist degree..... another school year is starting. I go back to work next Monday, and will meet a new batch of curious eyes that Thursday as the students return.

Tonight felt like Autumn...my favorite time of year.... and amidst the sadness I felt as I realized just how much time has passed.... I was suddenly unbelievably content with my life today... just as it is.

Quotes for this week:

"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it.
You can't keep it, but you can spend it.
Once you've lost it you can never get it back."
Harvey MacKay

"You never know what's coming for ya'"
Benjamin Button

"Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable becomes available, the unattainable.....attainable. Have the patience, wait it out.
It's all about timing."
Stacey Charter