It’s fall of 1988. You’re about to start your senior year of college. The final year before you’re “all grown up.” Um, no. Besides discovering that pegged jeans are NOT attractive, you have a few things to learn about life. Prepare for the following realizations twenty years from now:

First of all, at age 40, you will still not feel very grown up. Not only that, but you will have forgotten all your (already limited) math skills. Be prepared to let your children figure out the tip at restaurants.

You will someday be your mother’s age. Take her advice on skincare now. I mean it.

The San Diego coastal humidity’s got nothing on Georgia in the summer. Frizzy is your destiny.

That flat stomach of yours is not a function of strength or self-discipline or good genes. It can all be attributed to youth, and an unused uterus. Try to appreciate it before it disappears.

On the same subject: you do not have fat thighs. That is your body type. You’ll appreciate your pear shape someday.

This is the only time you will be an expert on life. Enjoy it. But please don’t judge. You’re on your way to becoming that frazzled mom with no short-term memory. Then you’ll want to apologize to all those people you made snap judgments about.

You are so much more capable than you give yourself credit for. You WILL be able to handle all your chores – plus those of four other people. And still have time to blog. Oh and by the way, hurry up and learn to type.

Some things will never change. You won’t completely stop living like a college student. So just accept that hand-me-down dresser, because you’ll be seeing it for awhile.

Finally, that boy you have a crush on? Not worth the energy. God’s got the perfect guy for you out there, but you wouldn’t like him if you met him now. You’ll have to wait another five years, but he’ll be worth it.