The Perception of Time

You know that your perception of time is not always equal. When I was a kid waiting for Christmas to come made each day in December feel like an eternity. And thus the phrase, “Slow as Christmas,” was born. Then as an adult, Christmas comes fast as can be because there is always more to do to get ready. Then it comes and it is gone before we knew it.

Now in the doldrums of January, as an adult, things could not be slower. Sure there are things to look forward to, like summer in Maine, eight months away. And some things I am not looking forward too sooner than that, but time has slowed to almost a standstill.

We thought it was going to rain today. So Russ and I decided to stay in all day. The rain never seemed to come. Maybe it did and I didn’t notice as I was inside, wiling away the hours. When I still had not gotten dressed by eleven in the morning Russ suggested I could spend the whole day in my flannel nightgown. As it was his idea, I felt no guilt and that is what I did.

Everything I was doing or not doing could be done in my night gown. It was a very slow day. I had taken all the Christmas down before January 4th, except for the actual tree. It stood bare in the gathering room all this month awaiting help to move it. Since a friend volunteered her husband to help tomorrow Russ and I wrapped it all up, ready to move.

For a minute today I thought I must have had this naked tree up for over two months. Then I looked at the date and realized we are just a bit past halfway for the month. So slow, so slow. Each day is like the others.

It’s dark now, I’m still in my nightgown. I thought it must be time for bed. I looked at my watch, only 7:30. So slow, so slow.

I never knew that getting dressed made the day go faster. Perhaps that is not it. But January, this dreaded January is so long, so long.

I never want to wish time away as it is so precious, but I like it better when I have hope for all good things, not dread. Dread makes it even slower.