The Payoff

When I was little, I was fascinated by the fact that grownups could carry full cups of tea, and even trays with several teacups on them, without spilling. I would try to hold the cup as steady as possible, but could never achieve that totally smooth, totally level control that left the liquid undisturbed. I put it down in the category of things that grownups could do but kids couldn't, not having had years of practice.

Well, today I was walking back from the watercooler, cup in hand, when I happened to glance down at the unruffled surface of the water lying there so close to the brim. Cha-ching! All the waiting was rewarded. Life is good.

Sometimes I really like getting older — many of the things I used to worry about or struggle to get almost right just sort of work themselves out over time.