Talkin' To Myself and Feelin' Old...

Years ago when I was about 4 or 5 years old, I would listen regularly to The Carpenters.  They were really my first remembrance of music, and the first "group" I grew to love.  They are still amongst my favorites to this day.  I recall the lyrics to one of their songs, "Rainy Days and Mondays".  Karen Carpenter would sing, "Talkin' to myself and feelin' old, sometimes I'd like quit, nothin' ever seems to fit. Hangin' around, nothin' to do but frown, rainy days and Mondays always get me down..." Kind of a depressing song when you really listen. Almost like her life has passed her by and what is she even living for anymore?  Well, I never thought much about those lyrics until tonight as I was working at Kroger.  I usually work the night shift, but sometimes they don't have enough hours to schedule me on nights. Yeah, I have no idea, makes no sense to me either, but whatever.  So this week, I'm working day shift, which means I end up working with a bunch of high school kids.  Good times.  Nah, they're really not bad kids and they've all been super nice to me considering I'm really OLD compared to them.  I crack up as I listen to them talk about this or that class, and how stressful life is to be 16.  Oh they just don't have a clue.  Tonight I listened as they talked about this one teacher they couldn't stand, or how boring this or that class is.  It took me back to my high school days which seems like many moons ago when you're hanging around kids born in 1997.  And now I just made you feel old. :)  I was talking with one girl tonight who is a Senior in high school, and she "can't wait to graduate."  Aaaahhh yes, I remember having those feelings, too.  As I stood there listening to them talk at each other back and forth, my mind couldn't stop thinking, "These kids were born in 1996 and 1997."  Do you know what I was doing in 1997?? I was 24 years old and having a great time in college (for the second time after dropping out.)  Is it really possible that it's been 16 and 17 years ago that I was in college??  I never really feel too old until I get around teenagers, and then I feel like I'm an over the hill old biddy.  So now I get those lyrics, "Talkin' to myself and feelin' old"....haha!  Oh Karen Carpenter, you were speaking to me way back when and you had no idea.  I really don't think I'm old, but working with those kids tonight, I realize I'm old enough to be their mother. YIKES!!!!!  Time amazes me as it seems like only yesterday that I was the 16 and 17 year old kid working while going to high school.  And here I am 23 years later.   Our life is definitely like a vapor, here for a little while and then vanishing away.  If you think life isn't flying past you, go hang out with some teenagers. They will quickly make you realize just how old you really are.  But something else those teens taught me tonight, they helped me know that I'm SO thankful to be as far through this old world as I am.  My teen years were not bad at all, and I had a lot of good times,  but I wouldn't go back to that time for anything. I love where I am right now in life. I'm doing things at 40 that I never even dreamed would be happening to me when I was 17.  So even though I may talk to myself and feel old sometimes, I love right where I am.  And I love that I'm getting closer to my Heavenly home.  As those teens are just about to start their life journey, this ole girl is happy to be as far through her journey as she is right now.   The Lord has been so good to me as I look back over my life, and He continues to be good to me and take me to places I never dreamed would happen to me. Why would I ever want to go back in time?? I'm happy right where I am.  Hope you all have had a blessed day!! God Bless!