Young blood 5/20

I have one question for you. Where have the last 20 years of my life gone? It seems like just yesterday my mother was dressing me up for my first day of kindergarten. With my brother and I walking hand in hand, we looked like we could conquer the world, or at least our designated grade in school. This past weekend I had the privilege of watching my brother complete one of the most important phases of his life. I watched him walk across a stage with hundreds of other students as he accepted his diploma and graduated from college. And now he's off, to another great feat in his life, medical school. The distinguished Dr. Joseph P. Bradley. Again, I ask you, where has the last 20 years of my life gone? When we are younger we have such vivid dreams and aspirations of someday growing up to be a great doctor, lawyer, politician, fireman, or even artist. We spend our lives admiring those people who have gotten there thinking that someday we will hopefully be there too and when the time comes we sit there in awe. Growing up, I toyed with several career ideas. I can remember at one point I wanted to be an author or illustrator. Then I suddenly became interested in fashion. Ever since then I have been determined to do something in the fashion world, regardless of what it may be. I can also remember growing up how my brother and I would pretend he was a doctor. He would tell me that someday he would be doing all of this for real. That always seemed so far away, but now it's suddenly here, fast approaching. I can't believe that I will be starting my third year of college in the fall. Am I really suppose to be this old? Am I really supposed to turn 21 in January? It hardly seems possible that so many years of my life have already passed. I used to take my childhood years so much for granted and now that I look back on them I have realized just how precious they truly were. I mean, I have lived through so many different things. From the big hair and rockin music of the 80's to the ever current war in Iraq. Two very different things but two things that will always stick out in my mind. As I was packing up my belongs from my dorm room I came across a box full of cards that I have received throughout the year. I began to reminisce as I started reading through some of them. I soon came to a birthday card that my brother had given me. After the printed message that came along with the card was a hand written note from my brother that said, "welcome to the second decade of your life." Second decade? Am I really that old? There is no way I have been alive for two decades. That just seems so long, and really, I guess it is. Twenty years old -- it seems like such an unimportant age in life. I mean, I've already had my 18th birthday which meant I had taken my first step into adulthood and I wasn't 21 yet which of course means I'm no longer a minor. But 20 holds a very pivotal meaning. I'm no longer a teenager and what's the next step after being a teenager. Yep, that's right, being an adult. My last and final push in being forced to grow up. So again, I ask, where have all the years gone? And do you feel the same way as I do? Has time just seemed like it's flown by without even a warning of where it's going? I hope you will take some time and think about all the things you have encountered through your life, however many decades that might be.