Where did the summer go? Classes have started and the leaves are getting a hint of orange. Remember how long the summer months seemed when you were a child? How can it be the same length of time when it goes so much faster - or at least it feels that way?
I have a theory - life is like the counter on a video tape player. Yes, video tapes are a disappearing technology, but I remember the thrill of how they revolutionized the way I enjoyed television.
If you “remember” video tape players, you can also relate how important it was to note the counter number at the start of your recorded show. The numbers at the beginning of the tape seemed to crawl by and it seemed to take forever to advance to past the middle of the tape. However, once past the middle, it took careful watching to not miss the correct number. It was the same tape, yet the numbers raced by as it got near the end.
Of course, mathematics can easily explain this “phenomenon” but it seems to mimic my perception of time as I near the higher-numbered birthdays. Another way to look at this is to observe that the pace of time is increasing at an increasing rate. Wow, it’s a derivative - yet another mathematical connection!
So, my life is like a video tape - the counter is speeding up as I get older. I wonder what technology my students will be referring to when they get to be my age. Any ideas?
Tags: Math Education, Mathematics
You're absolutely right about the summers flying by! I was just talking about this very thing the other day. I remember the summers seemed almost too long when I was a kid: I loved school and couldn't wait to get back to the daily routine of classes and friends. But now it feels like I hardly even have a chance to enjoy a couple of cookouts or days at the beach before it's time to get back to the grind again!
Posted by: TheBizofKnowledge | September 05, 2006 at 10:42 PM