Then and Now...

"Time changes things."
"Change is inevitable." 
"You can't grow unless you change."

We've all heard these statements before and as redundant and cliché as they are, they are also true. The other day I found myself jamming to Taylor Swift (yeah, I said it, no shame here) and one song hit me like a ton of bricks.

'Never Grow Up' 

"I wont let nobody hurt you
Wont let no one break your heart
No one will desert you
Just try to never grow up
You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom is dropping you off
At 14 there is just so much you cant do
And you cant wait to move out someday and call your own shots
But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older too
Don't lose the way that you dance around in your pj's getting ready for school
Oh darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
And no one's every burned you
Nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to
Just try to never grow up
Take pictures in your mind
Of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like
When your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps
Remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone
So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my nightlight on
Wish I'd never grown up
Oh darling don't you ever grow up"

Granted, I know how Peter Pan-ish this all may sound, but as much as I love my life (and as much as I hated hearing the "my house, my rules" speech), I'd give anything to spend one week being 10 again. 

 

There's a big difference between 10 and 25, just like there will probably be a huge difference between 25 and 40 (and probably then too I'll be wishing to be 25 again). But just to think back and reminisce HOW much difference those 10 years have made is incredible.
 

-At age 10, I was incredibly curious and loved to ask questions. 

-At age 25, when I ask questions, people look at me like I'm stupid and tell me to 'Google it' 

 

-At age 10, I would get home from school, take a nap if I felt like it, possibly finish some homework, hang out with the neighbors, then eat the warm and delicious dinner prepared for me. Then have more time just to hang out before my bed time.                                 -At age 25, I come home from work and think how incredibly hungry AND lazy I am, yet there's no time for naps, no time to call and chat with friends, only time to get the washing machine and dishwasher filled and started, and heat up the stove to start cooking. By the time food is cooked, eaten, dishes are put away and the a load of laundry is folded, I demand its past our bedtime so we can finally crash!

-At age 10, I had a ton of energy! I'd run in circles, bored out of my wits and drive my parents and siblings bananas! Then, IF I did get tired, I'd just crash out on the couch. 

-At age 25, I'm up at 5:30am, dragging tail all day and when the yawning becomes uncontrollable,  I'm sent to the kitchen or break room for yet another cup of coffee and told to get back to work.  

-At age 10, I'd be stoked for class every day to use my new school supplies. 

-At age 25, I'm saddened to discover that the only cool adult office supplies you can buy are Scotch tape dispensers shaped like high heels.  Where are the cowboy boots?! (Oh wait, I'm picturing that. I can see how that would not be pragmatic...)  I even saw a margarita glass Scotch tape dispenser the other day!  Probably not appropriate for the work place, just sayin'......

---side note: while shopping for office supplies the other day, I saw a Trapper Keeper brand folder, and it made me smile, but no Lisa Frank pencils. : (  

-At age 10, I'd load up my tackle box, filling it with my chartreuse PowerBait, fireballs, hooks and line, grab the worms and join my dad for an afternoon of fishing. I thought we were just fishing.                                                                                                                -At age 25, I cry when I think of those moments and would give anything for one last fishing trip. Now I know, we weren't just fishing. 

-At age 10, we had recess. 

-At age 25, I join the coworkers for smoke breaks- I don't even smoke. 

 

-At age 10, I was crying over my first 'boyfriend', Jose Lugo lying to me... (he stole my brand new mechanical pencil that my dad engraved my name in and wouldn't admit it), therefore causing a fight in which we both had casts and used them to beat the snot out of one another. I won.

-At age 25, I think back to all the boys that lied to me and wished I could beat them up with a cast. Then I remember I have found the one my heart was searching for and love that we are always honest with one another. No fighting necessary. 

          - At age 10, I was SO excited to go to Wolly World!
          - At age 25, I think I'd rather get a mammogram then go to Wal-Mart sometimes.

-At age 10, I'd laugh at my sister and say "You're such a Disney nerd, you're going to end up working for them!"

-At age 25, my sister is a 'cast-member' working at Walt Disney World. 

-At age 10, I wished I lived in Dr. Seuss' world. 

-At age 25, when life gets me down I find myself quoting Dr. Seuss:

-“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”                             
- "Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” (Google THAT  you mean "I don't want to answer your questions" people! 
-“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” 

-“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

Nothing is going to get better. It's not.” 

-“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains.” 

-“If things start happening, don't worry, don't stew, just go right along and you'll start happening too.”

 (... I guess I shouldn't be making fun of my sister for being a Disney freak, when I love Dr. Seuss stuff. But, in my defense Theodore Geisel was real, Mickey isn't. And there isn't an entire theme park called GeiselWorld, cause if there were, I'd have already booked my vacation there : )  )

 

          -At age 10, I'd be leaving the house and dad would say "shouldn't you comb your hair?"

          -At age 25, I'm leaving the house and husband says "shouldn't you comb your hair?"

 

          -At age 10, I was in bed by 9pm

          -At age 25, I'm in bed by 9pm (Craaappp... I'm old)

 

-At age 10, I thought I had the coolest parents ever (even though they were older than my friends' parents). My mom setting up field trips so we could go to the base and check out airplanes, and her (in full out uniform standing a proud 8ft tall) and my dad with his handmade wooden yo-yos coming to my class on my birthday with cake, decor and favors. 

-At age 25, I know what it took for my parents to raise me and my three siblings while having to manage illness and work. I still think they're the greatest parents ever. 

-At age 10, I knew Mark Wahlberg was incredibly hot. 

-At age 25, I know Mark Wahlberg is incredibly hot.

 

Okay, so I guess not everything has changed.