When I was a child, I thought Christmas would never come. I thought summer vacation was eons away. I counted the years until I turned 16 and could learn to drive, and then all I could anticipate was graduation. And after graduation, college; and after college, a job –the real world. Then came marriage, babies, preschool, and in a blink of an eye, graduations. Like Tevye sang, I turned around and my kids were grown.

To my shocking surprise last month, I turned 75 years old. Really? WTH? Yes, my mother did that; yes, both of my grandmothers did that. But me? How did I get this old in such a short time? And because I have a large, diverse group of friends, I rarely feel old. How can I when I am surrounded with those much younger than me?

However, I must admit being three-quarters of a century years old, is anchoring. I realize my time is short. The probability of me turning 100 is slim. As a result, I’ve spent this last month reflecting on the past and assessing my future. And while my reflections are still works in progress which I may share as they occur to me. Yet, I’ve learned several things this last month: age is a state of mind. One can choose to be old and cranky when they’re forty; they certainly don’t have to wait another thirty years. Retirement communities should be desegregated; there’s nothing worse than lumping together old people together. Their conversations focus on health woes, medications, the destruction of the world, and their abhorrence of taxes. Particularly taxes that support education. Their mantra: “I paid when my kids went to school; why should I pay now?” Duh? Because you want trained, educated young people taking care of you when you get ill. If these folks were surrounded by people of various ages, they just might discover how vibrant, intelligent, compassionate younger people are.

Now, the most startling revelation I’ve had is some of those in their twilight years carry grudges–grudges they probably will take to their graves. They get their knickers in a knot over some picayune thing one of their friends did, and they act like catty middle schoolers. Some still complain about what their boss did to them thirty years ago or how they were mistreated by their own sibling in elementary school. I just want to scream at them, “Ain’t nobody got time for that! Grow up! Be an adult!”

After all, life is a short trip. I won’t get any do-overs. The past is done, so I just appreciate every day. I fasten my seat belt and enjoy the ride.