Does this ever happen to you?

WARNING - this is a sentimental post.

Recently I've had a couple of experiences where I feel like I've gone back in time and then I'm suddenly thrown back to the present ... to reality.

A couple of weeks ago I went to a volleyball game with an old college friend who was in town for just a few days. We don't talk very often but we've stayed in touch. That night sitting next to CM at the volleyball game I thought it was 1999. It was just like it used to be. But then after the game she had to go home to her husband and child.

Last Sunday I ran into another high school/college friend at church. It was in the Oak Hills Stake Center right before the 8th ward met. I wanted KSK to sit by me and go to all three meetings (or at least two). Then I looked at her belly - baby #3 was almost done cooking. KSK and I used to go to that ward when we were 18 and I'm still in that ward at 33. We chatted and it felt like old times. Then I had to go pay my tithing and she had to go check on her sunbeam.

I've been to visit friend #1 in Texas twice in the last few years. I've gone out to lunch with friend #2 a few times in the last few years. It was always great to catch up with both of them. The experiences above were not like those visits. What was the difference?

CONTEXT - give me an old friend in a new context and we catch up. Give me an old friend in an old context and we go back.

So what is the point of all of this? It makes me want to enjoy what is going on in my life right now because times change and relationships change and sometimes all you have are the memories.