Feeling Old

Ok, so I know I'm not that old.  I'm 31.  Yep, born in 1976.  But every time I run into someone who used to be a student of mine, I feel just a little older.  I ran into one of favorite, favorite students today.  Tracee.  She was a freshman my first year teaching, she's now finishing up her master's degree.  Crazy.  She was a bit of an awkward kid, braces, she was athletic, a cheerleader and very energetic.  You could tell she'd be pretty as she is.  It was cool but I have to say that it made me feel old.  

I majored in Political Science and minored in French.  I came back to Alaska after I finished my degree and taught for one year before Mike joined the military and we moved to Washington (Ft. Lewis).  It's amazing how many of my students I run into.  This was the school year of 1998-1999, back when there were fewer than 30 students in high school French.  I see them quite a bit and I have to admit it's kinda fun.  It's fun to see someone all grown up and doing well when the last time you saw them they were struggling through high school.  I

I can't imagine how I'll feel as a parent to see my children off to college, getting married and growing up.  It's a good reminder for me how fast life goes and that as much as I just really, really want it to be summer and I really, really, want Jack to be just a little older, and Emma just a little older.  I used to joke that I won't know what to do with our kids til they reach middle school.   But I know I'll be sad when it's over and it will seem like it went so fast.  But where I sit, the next few months can hurry as much as they want because I really, really, want summer to be here :)