Lina is wise for her 32 years. Today, she was taking Edie, her two-year-old daughter, to the Bronx Zoo. It was Edie’s first visit to the big zoo. “That’s so nice,” I said. “Yes, I’m really looking forward to it,” Lina answered, paused and continued: “It’s funny how the things we most look forward to change. It used to be going on a date with Joel. Now it’s seeing and doing things with Edie.”
An illustration from Zoo, by Valeria Docampo*
How true. Our priorities and passions change as we move through the phases of our lives. We can’t wait to see our parents after a long separation, then we yearn to be with our husbands and partners when we’re apart, then we’re anxious for our children to come home from college at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
We gallivant around with our friends in college, then we only want to be with our partners, then we can’t wait to be with our friends again.
The cycle of life is fascinating, disconcerting, topsy-turvy and mysterious all at once. Not to mention awesome.
*P.S. When I was looking for an illustration to accompany this post, I discovered the artist Valeria Docampo. I love her work.
