I was stopped at a traffic light as five tweens were crossing the street to go to school.  Four girls and boy, on their merry way, chatting happily and dressed in sweatshirts, jeans and sneakers.

A wave of nostalgia came over me as I watched the kids.  I actually teared up as I experienced flashes of myself at that age, walking with my friends to Thompson Middle School.  I started thinking about the passage of time.  It’s so hard to believe that I’m now about 30 years older than the kids I saw today and that Chloe is almost their age.

It doesn’t seem that long ago.  I still have memories of middle school and my classes, drawing on my bedroom walls and hanging out with my friends.  As I sat at that traffic light for all of a minute, the thoughts just flooded in.  And for that brief minute, I felt middle-aged and a little bit old.

When I was a pre-teen, I wanted to be a neurosurgeon.  I never thought I’d get married or have kids, because I’d be too busy saving lives.  I’m really glad my life took a different path.  But I wonder, what would the 12-year old me have thought of the 42-year old me today?  I hope she’d be proud.