Monday, March 28, 2016

Where Did They Go?


by Fran McNabb

Ever wonder where the years have gone. If you’re in your twenties or even thirties, you may not be spending time on this question, but if you’re over fifty, it’s a different story. One moment you’re thinking you have your entire life ahead of you, and then, boom, you wake up one morning and you’re retired or getting near retirement.

 I'm well into my retirement years, and it seems there are always things that make me remember how fast the years have gone. I gave a baby shower for my great niece last weekend, and it was a reminder of how it was for me just yesterday—or so it seems—when I was like this young lady going through the exciting and sometimes scary months before the birth of

her baby.

Where did those years go?

If I’m serious with myself, I realize those years didn’t just vanish. They were lived. That young lady who had a baby over forty years ago lived each day that went by. Those days might be a blur today, but they weren’t blurs back then. Each day was lived and cherished. Each little thing that my two boys did as they grew into young men was a wonderful experience, and even though the moments seemed to fly by, they did exist.

I look at this sweet niece and realize she too will make those same kinds of memories, and one day she’ll look back on these exciting days in store for her, and, like me, will wonder where those days went. Let’s hope she and all the young ladies about to start a family will live and cherish each day with their little ones because one day they will be just memories.

Does that make me sad? Certainly not. Those two boys of mine are now giving me memories with their sons! Can't get better than that.

FRAN MCNABB spent most of her life on the Gulf Coast where she and her husband raised two boys. They now have two grandsons. She loves to include children in her light romances, i.e., six little orphans in SAVING THE CHILDREN http://amzn.com/B00V7CSRVE,  a child in WINDSWEPT http://amzn.com/B008RBSO3Y , ONCE IN A HALF MOON http://amzn.com/B00A9T6B3W , and PLAYING WITH FEELING  http://amzn.com/B00IYZWTAM. She loves to hear from her readers at www.franmcnabb.com  and at mcnabbf@bellsouth.net.

10 comments:

  1. Great post. I know how you feel. my youngest son is getting married in 6 weeks and I don't know how that is possible. He was 6 a few days ago.

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    1. Kathye, congratulations on the wedding of your son. I guess it's true that the older we get the faster the years go by.

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  2. This so hits home, Fran. My grandson just turned 18 and is growing a beard! You're right, though. It doesn't make me sad. I love witnessing the continuity of the generations. Lovely post.

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    1. I remember when my boys were babies I used to say I loved the new age they'd gotten to. Each stage was exciting and each one was my "favorite."

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  3. Good one, Fran. Brings back so many memories - like the time my best friend since grade 7 told me her niece was about to have a baby. No! It couldn't possibly be true. Only a blink ago she was a cute little 3 year old flower girl at my wedding. Time flies! But in a good way.

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    1. Cheryl, I agree. It seems only a blink of an eye and we're watching a younger generation do the things we used to do.

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  4. I'm in that in-between stage: over 50 but no grandkids yet (and I'm not in any rush). And I have a grandnephew who became a daddy last year. Yikes! Still, I enjoy every age I achieve. Lots of people don't get to reach them.

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    1. Yes, so true. So many of our friends and acquaintances are no longer with us so it's a good thing we are here, no matter how old or what stage we're in.

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  5. Hi Fran--
    I love how you say the years didn't vanish, but they were lived. That is such a nice way to view time that has passed and happy memories from those years. Oh, I also love your photo above.
    Victoria--

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  6. Lovely piece, Fran. Your great niece might be intrigued reading this if she hasn't already. I think it's so tempting when we're young with our babies to wish that time away and look forward to when the babies are older and able to be on their own. I would have appreciated hearing how special each age is. But I may not have believed it. Back when my children were babies, the future always seemed more interesting.

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