Pining for the Past...

I've recently come to realize that it's hard to grow up, to be the grown up, and to know without a shadow of a doubt that the past will never be again. It's times like these, when I'm the only one awake in the house (mine or anyone else's, as it happens), that my mind starts to wander. I'm famous for my really good memory. Eric says I never forget a thing. And, maybe that's the trouble...

I'm remembering holidays past, and I wish to goodness that some things could just be the way they were. For one, I miss the naieveness of childhood, when no matter what was going on behind the scenes, I was blissfully ignorant of it all and just had a good time eating and playing with my cousins. That's another thing I miss. I LOVED seeing my cousins all the time, but especially gathering at Nanny and Papaw's for a holiday get-together. We always had so much fun! And now, well, we never see each other anymore. Thank goodness for the internet, I guess. And, I miss Papaw and the farm and picking pecans and him stoking the fire in the stove and scaring all of us as we walked past his recliner into the kitchen, chasing the amazing smells that wafted our way.

I know things can't remain the same. It's not natural, but sometimes, I just wish for a little of the past to carry forward. I want life to be a little less complicated and a lot more, well, not complicated, I guess. I am thankful that I have lived long enough to have a "past," and that Eric and I are building traditions for our boys. With any luck, they'll have just as fond a store of memories as I do...that we all do.

Folks, regardless of today being "thanksgiving," let's all try a little harder to be honestly, truly, deeply thankful for all with which we have been blessed. It could be worse. As for me, well, I guess I need to start living a little more in the present while cherishing the past for what it is...the past...