People often say time flies, and for most things in my life, I can say that statement is true.

Good things just come and go way too fast. But it is not until they are gone that you realize they went by so quickly.

It was during winter break that I realized I have grown up and changed and so have a lot of other things.

Where did my four years of college go? Even worse, where did the last 21 years of my life go?

Several things happened while I was at home that made me want to change the way time works and just freeze everything in time and even go back.

The first thing: My best friend from middle and high school got engaged to her boyfriend of four years. Yep, engaged. Engaged as in she is going to be a wife as of Nov. 17.

What happened to my adventure buddy who used to "attack" our other classmates' houses and try to come up with "rebellious" things to do?

Annette was always the one I could count on to do anything with me -- skipping first period to have breakfast at Einstein Bagels or lying to our moms about sleeping over at each others houses' so we could go to our friends' prom after-parties at the beach and still make it to SAT class on time the next morning.

Those days are long gone, but I still remember them like they were just yesterday. When I pass any Dunkin' Donuts, I can't help but smirk and remember Raschu. Or when I hear the Killer's song "Somebody Told Me" I can't help but think of my favorite caged animal. I miss those inside jokes.

Even though I am so happy for Annette, I feel like all those middle and high school memories were just thrown back in time even further by her engagement.

Another unreal experience and memory that was really thrown into a time vortex happened after I saw my favorite eatery as a child.

While I was home over break, I drove by the Pizza Hut that I had been going to since I can remember. It was the place where I got to see the Ninja Turtles perform several times. It was the place that had the most comfortable booster seats.

The place that my mom and I went to for the lunch buffet when I had a day off for school.

But it was all crushed to the ground, literally. It was just an awful feeling when I drove by and saw that "my place" had been demolished. I felt a stab in my childhood memories.

However, if that Pizza Hut hadn't been demolished, I wouldn't have remembered how much I loved the Ninja Turtles or if Annette hadn't gotten engaged, I wouldn't have realized how great my high school years were.

It's sad to see things go away or change. But I think all that change makes you more appreciative of your past.

I would love to be driving my red Celica down 395 singing along to Sasha's "I would like to know..." or Busta Rhymes' "Pass the Courvosier" with my friends on our way to the beach.

But in remembering that I also have some great recent memories reminds me I would rather keep collecting memories and look forward to more than actually staying stuck in time.

Sometimes you might want to stop time or even go back in time. But the thing to remember is if those were great times, it only gets better as things move forward and we make more memories.