60 Celsius

Let's see, 60 is 16 celsius. That explains everything! I am only 16!

When I read Rex's post, I jumped for joy.  Being sixteen (Celsius anyway) clearly shows why I have been acting like a kid of late.  Here I thought I had an eighteen-year-old's brain.  Nope, only sixteen.

When I was sixteen, I knew everything.  I had answers to every question about life, love and the pursuit of happiness.  Mom and Dad were here on earth not to offer unasked-for guidance and advice, but to provide food, shelter and clothing, transportation and an allowance.  After all, what did they know?  It had been far too long since they had been teenagers.

At sixteen, I could have a sundae on the way home from school, eat a spaghetti dinner and still go out for a cheeseburger later on.  I never gained an ounce.  Chocolate did not make my face break out.  My hair changed color with my mood.  We bought magazines that had the words to our favorite songs so we could sing along.  We danced to any beat.  We were invincible.  The biggest problem was if the boy I liked returned my affection.  He did.

When did I grow up?  Sad to say, I never even noticed.  Suddenly I was a wife, then a mom, then a grandmother.  Where had all the years in between gone?  I had almost forgotten the fun of dancing, the silliness of Waldameer's carousel and the days at the beach.   I got caught in the same trap that you probably did--life got in the way.

It's not that I haven't had a good life, even an easy one.  There have been plenty of memories,  laughter and excitement.  I know I can never be sixteen again, but I want to capture some of that time, put it in a bottle and save it to bring out in my dotage.  Now I really do know the stuff I thought I knew back then, only now I know how much more knowledge is to be found.

About a year ago, I began my journey backwards in time.  I wanted to look for the things I had missed out on then.  I wanted to talk to some of the people from my past, just to see if they remembered me, and remembered events the same way I did.  I wanted to drag out old passions, begin a new career and savor some long cherished momentos.

So here I am, an almost sixty year old with the brain of a sixteen year old child.  I find I still have some of the same talents and desires.  I still want to try new things if my body will let me.  I don't care much for the carousel anymore, but I love the sky ride. I look up the words to Springsteen on the web.  I indulge in hot fudge now and then, and I still love to dance.  This time, I will not allow my life to get in the way.  I will not grow up so fast this time.  Been there, done that.

At least I don't have to wonder if the boy I liked returned my affection.  He does.