I like so many Americans left my parent's house as soon as I could (age 19). I would see them maybe one or two times a year for the next ten years. When I hit thirty and got married it was even less frequent. However now that they are retired at sixty two and I had my daughter last year they visit monthly. I never really took the time because of work and just the busy life so many of us live to take notice of my parents. In the living room of my house I looked over at my father. Most of his hair is gone, his face has aged much in comparison to the man that raised me. Though retirement has done him good from his high stressed career, time has caught up with him. My mother too looks so tired and worned though she is only recently retired and I hope retirement will bring her some happiness; though she puts her hope in The Society.
It was then I got this idea to go to the bathroom and stare in the mirror. Really, I have never bothered to look in the mirror. It is just a passing glance to the shower or the occasional glance while brushing my teeth. Though I'm only thirty seven, the face staring back at me looks like a man well pass his mid-40's. My dark brown hair is streaked with grey, dark circles under my eyes, and the early stages of facial wrinkles.
I felt so much older and that my youth slipped away to a religion that didn't allow for a normal childhood. Though I felt a momentary anger at parents in the other room it soon passed as I heard my baby laughing. They bought into the lies and thought a promise of eternal life for their family appealing. Now nearing forty years later and we are all aging, and so many have passed away. I get a little sad when I have time to think about how short our lives are and is why perhaps I never took notice.
So when did you notice that you feel old or that life went by fast? I know with good health I should see another 40 or 50 years but that really isn't too far off.