Time Flies When You’re Having Fun

Dude, I’m tellin’ ya………

It’s been kind of weird, but I have had so many reminders lately about how fast time flies by. This realization started for me a good 7 or 8 years ago on a certain level. I noticed it happening in my own life once I hit age 30. And as you relay this concept to an older person than yourself, almost unanimously their reply is that the older you get, the faster and faster it goes. Each day goes by quicker than the last. Each month flies by faster than the previous one. And finally, each year zips past so much more rapidly than the prior one. These are some of the truer statements I’ve ever been told.

But over the last four months or so, I have really had a good dose of reminders of how accelerated time is becoming in my life.

I think being unemployed has been one of the chief indicators of this thought lately. You would think that the boredom and the feeling of uselessness would make for long, drawn out days. But what I’m finding is that I do not have enough time each week to do everything on my ” To Do ” list. I get up and start doing my errands and chores, look for work on-line and in the papers, and in the blink of an eye it is 4pm and I haven’t eaten anything or done half the things scheduled for that day. And the situation is enhanced as you know your unemployment benefits are winding down and time is running out to land that new job.

I actually am beginning to really dread calling in for my next benefits check because each call brings me that much closer to D-Day. And it seems like every time I turn around, it is time to call in again.

Then when my dad fell ill again recently, it reminded me and my whole family of when he fell sick a little while back. He was hospitalized for about 10-12 days or so and we were all seriously concerned. Happily, he rebounded and returned home where he has been OK until this recent setback. But as the family has discussed matters, it dawned on us that his previous struggles were 16-17 months ago !! It’s really hard to believe. Almost a full year-and-a-half !!

Man, how time flies.

Then as we all celebrated New Years Eve this year and welcomed the start of a new decade, I realized how fast the last 10 years flew by. I remember the whole Y2K scare like it was yesterday and the excitement of starting a new millenium and all that. I know exactly what friend’s house I was at for that New Years party and everyone who was there with me. I remember specific conversations. And going out on the host’s back deck to pop open the bottles of champagne so as not to make a mess in her basement.

I remember yelling to my one buddy not to point his cork at my face (like he was inadvertantly doing) because ” I don’t have any health insurance, man !! ” 

Here we are 10 years later and although I have had health coverage since then at times, at the moment, I do not.

Damn, how time flies !!

Now just this past weekend as I was watching football with the boys, we all couldn’t believe that this Sunday is “Championship Sunday” where the last two games will be played to determine the Super Bowl participants. Then the Super Bowl, and football is over for another season. The realization blew our minds. We’ve already plowed thru 17 weeks of the regular season and 2 weeks of playoffs. All of us present remember having a shot toast on Opening Day for the season and being so excited that football would be a weekly gathering for us the next four months. Now it’s just about over already.

Good Lord, does time fly by fast !

And speaking of Opening Days, at least one consolation for us sports guys is that baseball spring training starts in about six weeks. So in about 2-3 weeks max, I have to start getting some serious research done for my fantasy baseball draft. I can’t believe it. I’m still smarting from the lousy showing I did last year and it’s time to buy a magazine and start ranking players again. A friend of mine just went to the Cubs Convention this past weekend. According to her, the players and coaches are ready to rock n’ roll. We hold our fantasy draft in mid-March and in the blink of an eye, it’s going to be Feb 1 already !!!

Holy smokes, does time fly !

It just seems like last weekend I was at my buddy’s annual Christmas party (Dec. 19) and enjoying the holiday at my sister’s house on the 25th. And that was just about a full month ago on both events.

It all adds up to another reminder to live each day to the fullest as best you can. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Enjoy each week and month with as many things jam-packed into it as you can. Get your kids out sledding on the next decent snowfall because it could very well be the last one this winter. Start watching the Blackhawks whenever they’re on because they’ve already played more than half of their (regular season) games. Prepare yourself that in another month or six weeks, it’s almost time to start the dreaded Spring Cleaning.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get going…….it’s already 3:30 in Chicago and I still have about eight things to do on my list for today. I can’t screw around here any longer telling you how fast time flies.

After all, I think you all know what I’m talking about.

So whatever it is you have to do……get to it.