“And all the while, time was flowing like the river” – Unknown

On Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, at 3:48 a.m., I laid in bed unable to sleep. I was wondering where did the time go? One day I’m a young girl, surrounded by my parents, siblings, family and friends, the next minute I am a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and all the while, time was flowing like the river.

So many things that took place in my childhood are remembered as if it were yesterday. I remember the smell of my mother’s cooking on Sunday. I remember my sisters and I helping my father clean the school in the evening. I remember sneaking off to read books, I remember laughing like I didn’t have a care in the world, and all the while, time was flowing like the river.

Then I remember being a young woman, going to New York City for the first time to start a new life. I remember the excitement, the fear, the awe. I remember meeting my husband, bringing him home to meet my family, becoming his wife, becoming a mother, being filled with love. I remember my six children as babies and now they are adults with children of their own, and all the while, time was flowing like the river.

I remember taking classes and being the oldest person in the room. I remember staying up late studying. I remember graduating with my Associate of Applied Science degree in 2009 at the age of 72, and all the while, time was flowing like the river.

In my lifetime I remember births, deaths, joy, sorrow, laughter, pain, love and anger. Even with all those memories, I never wish that I could turn back the hands of time, instead I look forward to each new day time will bring. I can’t control time so I welcome it and make a daily choice on how I’m going to spend it to make it worthwhile.

Time seems to past in a blink of an eye so let’s stop putting off our dreams and instead start living them. Let’s stop being angry with family members and friends over foolishness because it becomes time wasted. Let’s stop living in the past and embrace the future for time is going to move forward with or without us. Let’s be kind to one another, let’s love one another. Let’s remember time with minimal regrets, because no matter what, time is going to continue flowing away like the river, make the best of it while you can.

Mary Simmons is a columnist for The K-V Dispatch. She can be reached at Aboxoflovekvd@gmail.com.