There are times when I can do little but sit back, scratch my head and wonder how in the heck so much time has passed ... and so quickly.

Birthdays ... and I have one coming up ... always prompt this.

"Fifty-six! How did I get to be fifty-six, when I'm quite sure I was thirty-five just the other day."

(Of course, that line of thought completely ignores the fact that I have a daughter about to turn thirty-eight, but that's really beside the point.)

Today, however, is where the rubber meets the road, the dawning of realization, the staring down the barrel ... the last day of June. As of today, this year is half over.

While I'm still getting used to the whole 2007 concept, occasionally even slipping in a 19 where there's been a 20 for seven years now ... seven and a HALF years, if you please (or don't please) ... apparently in, like, five minutes this still-a-bit-strange number will fade into history and be replaced by 2008.

Sheesh.

The 'the-year's-half-over' mark should be an inspiration; if I were a clever girl, I'd be starting my Christmas shopping this week. Past experience tells me that if I don't I'll be scrambling to pull that holiday together in ... what ... a week?

But inspired is close to the bottom of the list of feelings today brings to me. At the top? Immobilization, mortality, astonishment, and that aforementioned head-scratching wonder at where half a year has gone ... again.

Look at my kids, forcryinoutloud! Cj has toddled completely out of babyhood, and Sam will be shaving any day now ... well, he's closer to his fifth birthday than to his fourth, so can it be that far off? Where have my babies gone?

And how is it that I can recall every second, but in some super-condensed version that seems to squish the years into an abridged version of life?

So, Happy Half Year Down The Tubes to one and all. Let's hope the next half goes just a wee bit slower, shall we?