i can remember when the earth moved slowly.

near the end of summer 2008, i was sitting on the beach in cape may, nj with my mother, listening to music. jack's mannequin's "spinning" came on:

i can't remember when the earth turned slowly
so i just wait here with the lights turned out again
i've lost my place but i can't stop this story
i'll find my way but until then i'm only spinning

i was about to start my senior year of college, and i knew that i would be "spinning". i looked around the beach and thought "this is when the earth turns slowly." we were on a pretty quiet section of the beach with the waves crashing, i had no plans for the rest of the day, i was absolutely content right there in that moment. i made a mental note to remember everything about that moment so that later on, when life was moving quickly and i felt like i couldn't keep up, i could conjure up that memory, and i could remember when the earth turned slowly.
i still use that memory. right now, in the midst of midterms, an internship that is amazing as it is draining, and a social life on top of everything - i'm spinning. but i can remember when the earth turned slowly, and i know it will eventually slow down again. until then i'm rolling with the punches and enjoying the ride.