Feeling Old Today

I was at the playground today with the twins and that kid next door who's always so full of energy. As I watched them swing back and forth, higher and higher with each push, I found myself thinking about when my own parents used to take me there. It feels like it was ages ago, which in a way, it kind of was. Anyway, the thing is, as I stood there watching these kids, something odd happened: they started talking about some app that lets you do virtual reality dances with friends. Now, maybe it's just me getting old or whatever, but I have no idea how this works or even what it means exactly. Is dancing still a thing? Or is everyone inside their little VR bubbles now? I tried to keep up with them and laughed along when they described some ridiculous dance move, but the whole time, I felt like an alien from another planet. And then there was that moment where my phone rang, it was an automated call about my upcoming 40th birthday party planning committee meeting (seriously, who even thinks of such things?). The irony hit me right in the gut. It's funny how quickly life can move past you. Here I am trying to squeeze every last drop out of being a parent and suddenly it feels like I'm on the cusp of something else entirely, middle age, responsibilities that aren't just about bedtime stories and snack time anymore. Maybe that's not so bad; maybe there's joy in new chapters too. But sometimes, especially when the sun sets a bit early in autumn, all you can think about is how quickly it all went by.