The Inevitability of Growing Up

It has been a really long time since I went back and visited my pediatrician. Aside from the known fact that I am more than 20 years old and at some point, a man has to graduate from "baby doctors", her clinic is at the far end of what seems to be the most crowded region in my country.

I am kind of excited to see how she was doing. As I was sitting in her clinic, waiting for my turn to be called, memories came rushing in. I remember waking up on a beautiful Saturday morning only to find out I have to have my shots that day. This usually ruins my entire day. The supposedly great day reserved for play and leisure transforms into a gloomy morning of anxiety and complete terror.

Commuting from our house to her clinic takes at least 1.5 hours without considering traffic congestion. For a kid who knows he would experience a world of pain, 1.5 hours flies by so fast. My heart would beat faster and harder as we come close to our destination.

Her clinic is situated on the 2nd floor of an old building. After climbing the stairs, I would always be surprised by the seemingly endless hallway with countless opened doors. Beside these doors and different beautiful engravings of the doctors name and their specialization. Just in front of each door are several benches that seems to be as old as the building itself.

I remember thinking that each clinic appeals to a certain group of people. There is a clinic for women with enormous bellies and a clinic for very people. However, one thing is always constant - kids. It seemed that regardless of which door I look, there are always kids just like me.

When we enter her clinic, we are immediately welcomed by the doctor's secretary. I can not seem to remember much about her but I do know she always gives me a flavored tongue depressors. By this time, my heart is pounding harder and louder, my knees is a little numb, and I can not think imagine straight. Me and my mom, together with one or two patients who arrived earlier than us, will sit in silence.

Then, the next thing I know, we are next. My mom and the doctor would talk for a few minutes then just like instinct, I follow the doctor's command. Breathe in...breathe out...breathe in...breathe out...A tradition passed on from one pediatrician generation to the next. Then, the most terrifying moment in my life yet, the needle.

As the doctor counts from one to three, I would shut my eyes, tightly hold my mom's hands and stiffen my arms. Ouch! Grown ups always liken getting vaccinated to being bitten by an ant. To those people I say, "bite me"!

Looking back, I realized how I have grown. Whenever I would see someone moving out from their parent's house, getting married or simply making his own pot of coffee, I would be reminded that life matures. It is a force that expands and even though it can be delayed, it can never be contained.

Oh, the inevitability of growing up.The things I have learned, the things I have experience, and the things I regret (not) doing all becomes a part of the growing process and I still have a lot to go through. Anything and everything can cause or delay maturity. It's up to us to decide how this will affect our lives.