The Necessities of Life

It’s 6:00 a.m. The house is quiet, everyone still asleep, but you burst from your bed with excitement. You rush down the hall to your parents’ room, screaming and cheering until they wake up. Then you sprint to the living room, where the presents sit waiting beneath the tree. Soon, everyone is gathered together, tearing open wrapping paper. Your dad is recording every moment on the video camera, your mom beaming with joy, smiling ear to ear as she watches you open your gifts. All is right with the world. You blink, and suddenly, twenty years have passed, and everything is different. You no longer care about the presents under the tree; you are simply grateful to be surrounded by family. There is no rushing anymore, just going with the flow. You do not worry about how much food is on your plate, and you go back for seconds because it is all just that good. The day slips by in the blink of an eye, and before you know it, you are back home, lying in your bed. ... The years have passed fa...