My nephew had a birthday over the weekend. I called to wish him a happy birthday, and ended up talking to my brother for a bit. And then it hit me once again, that reminder of how quickly time is passing and how all our kids have grown in, seemingly, the blink of an eye.
That particular nephew is a junior in high school on the brink of adulthood. But he’s not the oldest. The oldest — who was born while I was in high school — is about to graduate from the University of Nebraska. His two younger siblings are also in college.
Then there’s my stepson Logan, who I’ve been helping raise since he was about 1 1/2. He’s just days away from turning 20. While all those years may sound like a long time, in my mind it was just a few months ago we were hitting wiffle balls in the backyard and he was just a toddler I could carry around the house.
My own son will be a teenager with his next birthday and has begun middle school, but it seems like just yesterday we were taking him home from the hospital during quite a mild stretch in an Iowa January.
It’s not just the kids who seem to be hitting milestones one after the other. I also had a video chat with my other two siblings regarding my dad’s upcoming 75th birthday party, slated for this summer.
I have vague memories of his surprise 40th birthday party we held when I was a child, then another as he turned 50 that was disguised as a bridal shower for my sister-in-law.
Dad has gone through many milestones since then, and not just birthdays. He’s watched all his children get married, welcomed nine grandchildren into the family, retired, lost the first love of his life, found love again and remarried — gaining two more grandchildren. And through it all, he’s been there for us every step of the way.
My dad’s personality and his activeness don’t seem to match the 75 years we’re preparing to celebrate. He’s quite spry and witty and continues to travel frequently. In fact, as I write this, he’s on his way to Las Vegas with his cousin, who also happens to be a high school classmate.
Time is funny. Day to day, it seems to pass slowly, some days more than others. But the years go by so quickly. I actively work to try to archive all the wonderful memories in between. Today’s technology helps with that as it’s easier than ever to capture moments in the palm of our hands.
Hopefully, it doesn’t continue to fly by as it has been. Somehow, I don’t think that will happen. But I will continue to cherish the moments.