Why is everyone is such a hurry?!

Admittedly, I’m a master of multi-tasking, and deadlines tend to inspire me, but does it have to be that way with everything these days?

I was at Target today and there were 4 or 5 checkout lanes open and they started to get lined up. Not really long lines, but each probably had 2-3 customers waiting. As I stood there, pondering the lamps I looked at (but didn’t buy!), I noticed a woman looking around and pacing; I could feel the impatience coming off of her in waves.  Really? We can’t wait 3 minutes to buy things now?  It hit me in that moment, all of the racing around and hurry! hurry! HURRY! we do. Is it really necessary?

It seems we’ve come to expect everything at high speed – internet, cable, satellite, cars, food, services, etc. What happened to waiting for quality? What happened to patience? It’s not just personal/consumers either.  We want our government to fix things rightnow and war to be over and everything to be happy rightnow! We can’t wait for buses or planes or trains without complaining. We can’t sit in traffic for more than 2 minutes without freaking out.

What happened to good things happen to those who wait?

I’m not saying I’m not guilty of it. Just this morning I turned on my computer and sighed at it because it took longer than 2 seconds to load. When I want things done, I want them done now. Not in an hour or a week, but right now.

That said? I’m sitting on my deck, swinging in the evening sun, enjoying the breeze, because right now is what matters. Because everything that we seem to want or want to do faster just makes time move faster. So I’m going to enjoy this moment. I’ll worry about later…well, later.

Me & My Dog on the Deck

It’s finally cooled off enough to open the windows and turn off the air conditioning. The breeze, the summer smells, the sounds. This has been missing from my summer this year.

It takes me back to my childhood. When we played outside after dark – kick the can or flashlight tag; when the screams and giggles of children filled the air. When the only thing that made us park our bikes was mom or dad yelling it was time to come in. Of the seemingly endless ‘see you tomorrows ‘.

It takes me back to high school, coming home late from friends houses, air so cool it was almost cold, but too perfect to roll up the windows. Of nights singing American Pie and Brown Eyed Girl. Of cheap beer, laughter, philosophical discussions, cigarette smoke and coffee. Of thinking we knew it all.

And of freedom; a world so much less scary and worrisome than today.

I’ve been so happy to let my boys play outside after dark. There is something so perfect about playing baseball until you can’t see the ball anymore, and riding a bike with flashlights attached to the handlebars. Catching fireflies and lighting sparklers; playing in the rain.

Just like when I was a kid, summer goes by too fast. I’m finally able to breathe it in and it’ll be over before I know it.

Thanks for giving us a break for a few days, Mother Nature. I needed the reminders.

First real ride [not just up and down the street] and I learned 3 very important things:

1. My seat is too high
2. My water bottle cage is too low (see #1)
3. It’s imperative to keep one’s mouth (or at least teeth) closed to avoid accidental bug ingestion.

I’m still not sure that it’s shifting correctly, so I think I’ll take it back in to be sure.  I mean, I got a fantastic deal on it, but not THAT good!

P was having such a great time in the rain – a welcome break from the heat. (I wish I could’ve balanced the camera and the umbrella a little better so he wasn’t blurry!)

My favorite picture from this week.
After a super hot day (week), a ride in the rain was the perfect way to cool off.