How Did I Get Here?

"Trick or treat!"

Three simple, little words that rocked my world today. And I wondered, How did I get here?

My little one held out a plastic, grinning pumpkin and chirped the words excitedly, waiting to see what goodies the stranger would drop into the orange bucket. And as I looked at my child in wonder, I thought, How did I get here? When did I get old enough to have kids? Had I really been a mom long enough to have a child old enough to trick or treat?

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of my own mom. She stood watching us from afar as we collected goodies. And I thought, If I'm wondering how I got here, I bet she's thinking the same thing- 'How could it be possible for my baby to have a baby?'

Could it be possible that 20 years had passed since I'd done this same tradition with my cousins? There I stood- the parent- watching as my child had a plastic pumpkin filled by  strangers, reminding 'Be sure to say thank you,' and 'Only ring the doorbell once.'

It made me a little sad. The years have passed so quickly, and I know my mom misses the days when my sister and I wished the hours away until we could put on our costumes, grab a pillowcase, and walk for hours collecting treats from the neighbors. I miss those times, too. Life was easy and sweet.

Now that I have children of my own, we're making memories with them. Watching as they wish away the hours until the costume can be slipped on, the pumpkin can be filled, and the candy shared with cousins. The time between trick or treating child and trick or treating with my child has passed quickly.

 And while I contemplate how quickly the years slipped by, my question is not, How did I get here? Rather it is, How could I end up anywhere else but here?