Time flies, now more than ever

A phrase I often refer to from my highschool Latin course is "Tempus Fugit" or "Time Flies." At 80 years of age it means more to me now than ever. I try to crowd as much living as possible into each waking hour, especially during my retirement.
I have always been interested in timepieces, such as wrist and pocket watches. I was even fascinated by the big clock that was located downtown on the then Dollar Bank building.
The clock brings back memories of more than half a century ago, when as a World War II veteran, I was attending Youngstown College, now Y.S.U., under the G.I. Bill from 1946 to 1951. I rode the bus to and from college. I enjoyed walking downtown in all kinds of weather to catch the 2-Oak or 3-Lincoln bus back to my Eastside home on North Jackson Street.
Buses ran on time
That clock must have been many bus drivers' "Big Ben" because the drivers left right on their scheduled departure time. I could spot the clock as far back as the top of the Wick Avenue hill. And run or walk to the square bus stop, depending on the circumstances. I don't recall missing a bus trip home, even though the drivers waited for no one, because the square was so congested.
The buses were also congested, to where they literally bulged at the front doors with standing riders. We were packed in like sardines in a can.
Times sure have changed. Most of us have our own wheels today and because time is of the essence, our cars have clocks too. At home I am surrounded by clocks. We have an anniversary clock in the living room, a grandfather's clock in the dining, a clock on the VCR in the den, a clock on the oven and microwave in the kitchen and clocks on the clock radios in the bedrooms.
Timepieces here, there and everywhere, but nary an extra minute do we gain. There aren't enough hours in a day or even a lifetime for most of us. This brings to mind an old adage attributed to the Amish, "Life is too short and death too long."
X Michael J. Lacivita is a Youngstown retiree, writer and photograher. A collection of his columns, "Rag Man, Rag Man" has been published by Pig Iron Press in Youngstown.