Grow up!

“Grow up!” It’s a schoolyard phrase meant to put attackers on defense.

Taunter: “First came love, then came marriage…”
Responder: (Eye roll) “Oh, grow up already!”

Taunter: “I see London, I see France…”
Responder: (deadpan) “Grow up, Joe.”

Lately, though, it’s what I think when I post pictures of my grandmother to this blog. Will I ever get to 1940? (Or even 1914?) When will baby Marjorie get to grow up…

…for the second time? Hahaha

I’ll blame my impatience on both nature and nurture, if I may. New Yorkers aren’t known for the peaceful way they wait on lines. Or wait for anything, really. I vividly recall buying flowers in Buenos Aires after spending years in New York City.

“How much are these?” I asked the vendor, after having eyed the bouquet I wanted. 

“Good afternoon”, he responded in a friendly way.

It stuck with me because, of course, I should have started the encounter with my own “good afternoon”. It’s just that for so many years, the routine was to cut to the chase. Next! Next! Next!

Which brings me back to growing tired of going so slowly through my grandmother’s album. I want to move faster and post more interesting pictures but that’s just a form of wishing my life away. And my mother has been very clear that I must not do this!

In fact, that may be sage advice as we count the months until it gets warm again or until the days begin to get longer again. Don’t wish your life away. Something to think about as we check and recheck the progress on COVID vaccines.

“Just 4 more months until…”, “just 2 more years until…” How seductive it is to draw imaginary lines in the future beyond which things will be better, more exciting or easier. In fact, I just read an article in the NYT with a quote that encapsulated that idea: “Happiness always looms ahead”.

The problem is that when you constantly look ahead, you tend to miss the beauty of what’s happening right now. 

I think the last time I heard “don’t wish your life away” from my mother was when I had to cut a conversation short because of a diaper change. But even that! The hefting of a little one up onto the changing table, the way they turn their head to look at you as you rip and lift, unwrap and tape. There now. “All done!”

One day it will be ‘all done’ and since we don’t know when, well, it makes sense to unwrap today like the present it was meant to be, right? Even if the day is colder and darker and rainier than the day before? (I’m looking at you Thanksgiving 2020).

The truth is that I’m grateful for so many things this year. My husband and I have been lucky to be able to work from home since March. We’ve been duly impressed by the efforts that teachers have put into this school season.

I may complain (another thing New Yorkers are good at!) but I am very thankful for the chance to blog here, too. It has certainly helped to keep a historical perspective on what has been a **crazy year**.

Wishing a very happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!