Too Much

You know those Progressive commercials where the Millenials are turning into their parents and Dr. Rick tries to help them?

Well, paging Dr. Rick for Baby Boomers turning into their parents.

It struck me the other day when I was having a conversation with my friend. I was meeting her for lunch at a place about a 20 minute drive away.  She had also invited me back to the same area for a happy hour with former coworkers.

My response? 

“Thank you, but I think that is too much for me,” I said.

And that’s when it hit me.  I sounded just like my mother.

“Mom,” I’d say.  “Would you like to go to the movies with us tomorrow?”. 

“Oh, thank you dear,” she would reply, “but I think that will be too much for me.  I am getting my hair done today and I don’t think I will have the energy to go out the next day.”

What the what?  I would look at her askance.  “Mom, are you kidding me,” I would ask? 

“No dear. I am quite serious, “ she would reply.  “Anymore, whenever I do anything I need a day before and after to recover.  You know, get my energy back.”

My mother was 70.

And here I am at 60 and not having the energy to go to lunch 20 minutes away and return back there 4 hours later for a happy hour.

Mea culpa, Mom.  Mea maxima culpa.  I had no idea.  But now I do.

Too much. 

Gives a whole new perspective on that old adage, “One day at a time.”