LETTERS: LIFE'S PACE IS LIKE A TILTAWHIRL

To the editor:

My wife and I enjoy waking up early so we can have some leisure time to go for a breakfast sandwich and coffee while reading the paper and discussing the events of the previous day. As my wife was taking me to work, I could not help notice the madness of the traffic and people as they were starting their day. Moms were driving their children to school with one hand on the wheel and the other holding their breakfast or applying makeup.

While observing the morning rush, my thoughts were overshadowed by a picture of a merry-go-round turning ever so slowly to the music of a beautiful waltz. I was mystified as to what this picture in my mind had to do with the business of the morning. My thoughts then turned to my school days as a child and how I had plenty of time to eat my bowl of hot cereal and toast and walk several blocks to school, stopping to observe whatever my mind took fancy to see. Yes, the pace was that of a merry-go-round turning to the rhythm of a waltz.

This led me to think of the days when our children went to school. To what could it be compared? Three children in different grades, sometimes in different schools and at different times, all insisting on rides to school in our car. Halfway there, one could always count on hearing, "Mom, I forgot something. We have to go back and get it." To what could this be compared? No doubt about it. These were the days of tiltawhirls.

This was years ago. I had to ask myself where are we now in this carnival of the morning. Once again, I became keenly aware of the happenings around us as we continued toward my workplace. How would I describe the pace which one travels today to get to work and the children to school? Most certainly it must be the roller coaster ride of the day. Having a grandchild, it seemed only natural to wonder about the future and what the mornings might bring in his day. I quickly decided that the ride to compare it with has not been invented. It was shocking enough to go from a merry-go-round to a roller coaster all in one morning.

RON FARROW

Cape Girardeau