Thinking about the rapid passage of time. I went to a memorial service for a college friend yesterday. Caused me to wonder if memorial services are starting to replace traditional wakes and funerals, since this is the second one I’ve been to in the last few months. The concept of a memorial service, at least the two that I’ve experienced recently, seems more personal and touching that the rote ceremony of funerals past.

In addition to being college classmates, I had forgotten that many years ago Pat and I had briefly taught in the same school. The few women who looked vaguely familiar were colleagues from another lifetime. We were all so young the last time we were together. Now we swapped stories of adult children and grandchildren.

Even more thought provoking was the encounter with the daughter of one of my mother’s friends. She recognized me from across the room, thinking with a start that I looked like my mother. A little disconcerting to be forced to accept the fact that you really do look like a grandmother!

Our mothers were part of a group of very close friends, and she and I had grown up in parallel worlds. That circle of friendship has long since closed with their deaths. Seeing her yesterday, however, brought back a shock of memory and connection that was very real.  We, their daughters, are the older generation now.

This aging process is interesting, in addition to being a little unnerving. I don’t think about it much on a regular basis. Hard not to think about it when faced with the death of a friend. I did focus on it a few years ago and remember writing about turning 65, and becoming eligible for Medicare. I turned it into an article for the Regis Magazine called Granny’s Got Gusto. Still dislike that title. Chosen by an editor; not me.

I still believe that our generation is approaching aging differently. Maybe instead of approaching it, we’re choosing to ignore it as long as possible. Have I mentioned that Frank and I are going to Disney World without the kids in April?!