People always say around this time of a new year "My Gosh this year is flying.." and indeed it seems like some are still writing 2009 on their checks and it's nearly March. And of course you have the over 35'ers always saying "time really passes quickly after 30..."
So I have been thinking of reasons why this could be. One reason I think is that technology takes up so much of our time now. I can recall not having a cell phone nor internet but I can't recall what I did with all of my free time other than I read more books and wrote more letters and I got the LA Times delivered everyday and read it front to back. Now I answer emails in the morning and rarely know what's going on in the world since the paper is gone due to my "green guilt" and I watch little TV...I am embarrassed to say that I did not know about Haiti until 3 days into the disaster, I simply did not see the news. I also don't listen to the radio in my car because I tracked every accident I ever had and came to the realization that music was blaring during each one so I quit that cold turkey and have not had so much as a fender bender in years. (knock wood)
Thinking about what makes time go so quickly made me think of one of my favorite poems about time by Rilke:
Lord: it is time. The summer was immense.
Lay your shadow on the sundials
and let loose the wind in the fields.

Bid the last fruits to be full;
give them another two more southerly days,
press them to ripeness, and chase
the last sweetness into the heavy wine.

Whoever has no house now will not build one
anymore.
Whoever is alone now will remain so for a long
time,
will stay up, read, write long letters,
and wander the avenues, up and down,
restlessly, while the leaves are blowing.


So, back to time. I also realize that when you get older perhaps you start wondering about what you have NOT done yet and that might make it seem like there are "less hours in the day". We also have more commitments and goals then when we were younger. I do think that being a slave to checking email and cell phones is a very hard habit to break, I could not believe it myself when I turned around and went back home the first time I forgot my cell phone....I thought "what the heck am I doing? I can't live without it for a few hours??" and the answer was "no, apparently I cannot". Pathetic really. I am not a surgeon on call, an EMT nor am I a parent so what the heck do I need a cell phone for 24/7? I do believe that it makes us feel validated, that we exist and that we are needed-cared for-etc. etc. but didn't we feel that way before cell phones and email?
Some of you ask why I don't blog as much anymore and well frankly, between working on writing assignments for potential pay, writing for school, facebook and emails I don't really have the time! You see...life is moving too quickly....and the year is passing too fast...
slow down and enjoy. I shall endeavor to make more time out of fairy dust or burning sage...
x

I'm back in school and loving it. I have a short story class every Thursday night and just signed up for the super duper writer's 3 day crash course with Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, Eric Flint, David Farland and Brandon Sanderson which should be a very good time.
I wanted to learn how to sculpt but then I had to remind myself that the last time I tried an "artsy" thing I invested a ton of money in a hobby hut, potters wheel, clay and all of the tools only to find myself making miniature figures of goblins then putting firecrackers up their insides and blowing them up, needless to say it was a complete waste of time and money (but it was kinda fun). Sculpting always seems like such a noble pursuit, you make something out of nothing ....which led me to remember that I can actually make up pretty good stories and I have written things and even been published (SMALL TIME) so I decided to get better at what I can already do rather than try something new, a whole new concept for me; the Queen of the tasting platter, not the full course. I'm a dabbler from day one, violin? Sure why not..I'm bored, trumpet? Why yes thank you I'll try that one!
In any event I am enjoying writing and reading other people's work and the whole critiquing thing which just points out how utterly differently we all perceive stories and their supposed meaning. It's very amusing to see what offends certain people and what riles them up!

Years ago when my parents were still married they made the painting you see above together. My Dad carved the frame out of a block of wood and my Mom painted an old looking icon on it. I love this collaboration and it is going to go in a place of honor at the new house. It just goes to show you what you can make out of something if you just put your mind to it.