COLUMN: Speed y Gonzales on the fly

Maybe it’s just I, but it seems as though the last two months have flown by! It’s already mid-March, and just yesterday was New Year’s Day, and I was pondering my resolutions — get organized, enjoy retirement, slow down a bit. Yeah, right.

Hmm, maybe it’s because we’re now on Daylight Saving Time, or because even though there are still 24 hours in a day, the sun still is rising and setting , throwing us — or me, anyway — off kilter.

Wait, I had a great time at the AAUW book sale a few weekends ago. All you booklovers were there, finding great buys for those long evenings. While zipping around, trying to multi-task in record time, I did take a spill over an unattended bag of books, thus creating a diversion as others were seriously searching through book stacks for interesting material. No harm done. A couple of student volunteers from UWC gave me a hand (not applause). I got back on my feet, dusted off my pride, and continued stacking more books for public consumption. I promised myself I wouldn’t do it, but, yes, I bought some books and CDs.

My hands moved faster than my convictions and I just couldn’t resist the temptation. Aww, it’s for a good cause, though, as AAUW (no, I didn’t misspell AWW), American Association of University Women, sponsors this yearly event to provide higher education scholarships for women. My pride, notwithstanding, it was for a great cause!

But back to my current time anxiety: I can’t seem to catch up on my commitments. I lectured my own children and anyone who’d listen (my former students as well as Pedro of foreign exchange fame) that it’s important to follow through if one makes a commitment, no matter how difficult it might be.

Now I’m eating my own words. I thought things were supposed to slow down as one ages. I thought wrong!

Maybe that thinking is wrongheaded, though. Perhaps this dizzying speed is therapeutic. Wish I could convince myself that it’s so. I guess things could be worse — like feeling the winter doldrums, for example. No, we don’t want to go there.

So, writing as fast as I can, driving as fast as I (legally) can, I’m managing to meet deadlines, attend meetings, plan and deliver class content and grade essays, file my taxes and get replacement glasses for the ones I accidentally stepped on a while back. I always liked being called Speedy Gonzales, but I’m slowing down, folks. Hope that’s not all, though, folks! My apologies to Porky Pig.

So, are you feeling this rush, too, or is time dragging on for you? Golly, it’s Lent, and Easter and springtime are just a couple of weeks away! Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about buying my kids new Easter outfits, Easter baskets, dyeing Easter eggs — my kids are in their 30s — when did that happen? Well, the old cliché says, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” Are you having fun — yet? I can’t decide if I am.

OK, time to take a deep breath, relax, slow down. Oh yeah? No way! The bills keep arriving, the woodpile is low, the gas tank, even though a bit less expensive to fill, still keeps guzzling. Oh, for those leisurely walks in the sunshine — well, even in the brisk morning air? It sometimes seems preferable to cut them short and drop into Charlie’s Café for a cup of coffee and maybe a chance meeting with old friends.

So, yeah, let’s wax philosophic. Oops, sorry, I can’t right now, ‘cause this week I have midterm grades due, need to sign a contract with ACT, pick up my new glasses and finalize my tax returns. Then maybe I can start planning for a three-week trip to Portugal this summer. I don’t know, Mr. Edgar Allan Poe, “Is there balm in Gilead?” (from The Raven.) I guess I’ll find out.

Life is good, isn’t it? Maybe in the fast lane it’ll be better.

Lupita Gonzales is an educator and member of the Optic Editorial Board. She may be reached at lupitagonzales2002@yahoo.com.