I’m at the Georgia Tech football game, the all-white dressed band is on the field with their frilly, elongated hats, cheerleaders are flying through the air, and there’s the unmistakable smell of beer seeping up from the floorboards. Watching it all makes me reflect on my own life—a check-in and check-up from the person I was years ago when I too sat in stadium stands, in a body that felt too tight, unaware of my own or others’ mortality.
I feel a mix of gratitude and despair. There’s a “where did the time go” feeling, paired with filling in time’s gaps with all the memories and experiences I’ve had since then.
I could easily wallow in the nostalgia, grieving the time lost. But it’s the third quarter, with 9:40 left, and it’s 3rd and 30—ain’t nobody got time for that. So I keep trekking.
It wasn’t a total massacre, but it sure wasn’t pretty. Thankfully, the free beer, good food, cushy chairs, and spaciousness made losing less painful.
The drive home is long. The hour and a half of mostly freeway becomes more bearable as the cars gradually exit, leaving behind less congestion. Then there’s just the darkness, with headlights illuminating the yellow lines on the road. It’s easy to slip into the monotony of the drive—until something jolts you awake, like the scraggly coyote that caught Dave off guard and had him slam on the brakes. The unwelcome beep from our Progressive insurance monitoring device let us know that harsh braking was noted, and our hearts sank. Depending on how we drive, we could get a discount, but too many dings and, “the program might not be for us.”
I’ll end with a pleasant surprise: I recently found a photo I thought was lost forever, one I had uploaded to Flickr. In it, I’m mid-jump, captured at the peak, sand swirling in the air around me. I love the strength of my body at that moment. It was taken at White Sands National Monument in 2012, a random stop during months of aimless wandering in my car. I’d picked up a travel buddy along the way, and if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have this photo.
Looking back on days like these, I’m reminded that life is full of unexpected twists and turns, both on and off the road, there’s always something waiting to shake us out of the routine and make us pay attention. Sometimes it’s frustrating, other times it’s nostalgic, but it’s all part of the journey. And while the past can tug at my heartstrings, I’m grateful for the present—the memories, the people, and the moments that keep me grounded, even as life continues to move forward.
Love, Jaclynn
Going On 40 