In the olden days, back when I was in school, I was considered some what intelligent -- maybe almost intellectual. I've even got a Phi Beta Kappa certificate in a box somewhere to prove that fact to the most skeptical.

A few nights ago, I got a rare girl's night out with my two best buddies from college -- the two women who were in my wedding. Neither of them has married yet and therefore (and in our circles this therefore does generally apply) neither of them has any children. We went out for dinner and then coffee. The conversation wasn't terribly highbrow, but at the same time, there are definitely differences in where our lives have headed.

One of my friends, a history major in college, and now a magazine editor, routinely reads medieval history texts and 19th century novels. The other friend, an English major turned lawyer, is currently making her way through every 18th century novel written by a woman that she can find. And me -- well, I wowed them with my ability to recite most of the minute details of Back to the Future. In fact, I found myself almost covering up just how well I remember the movie.

They are both far more intellectual than I, and probably always were. They don't seem to hold against me the fact that I have devolved, and I can't envy them their brain power, weekend mornings of sleeping in and trips to Europe too much. I have three short people around the house and a husband and that makes up for a lot of lost brain cells.

I'd take a morning or two of sleeping in though, if anyone offered.