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The marching band is already prepared for the first football game of the new school year, but I haven't picked up my son's freshman band pictures from last spring.

It is on my to-do list -- I just haven't gotten to that particular do.

Life moves at warp speed, making it next to impossible to hit the brakes long enough to smell a rose.

There must be a way to slow down and enjoy the ride without jeopardizing those pesky necessities like income. Take my tomato plants. They relax all day in big planters in my backyard, content to hang out a stone's throw from potentially fatal weeds and aphids. Without a care in the world, they drink in the sun and enjoy daily, personalized hydration.

They could have responded by producing gallons of juicy, ripe tomatoes all summer. But they did not. It has taken nearly four months for three still-green tomatoes to emerge.

The plants seem to be maturing at about the same rate as a 35-year-old college student who decides to move back in with his parents after losing his pizza delivery job.

Considering the growth rate of my tomatoes, I might get to enjoy a burst of summer-flavored tomato and mayo sandwiches while preparing our annual Thanksgiving feast or baking holiday cookies.

Then again, fried green tomatoes may just be one of our featured side dishes during the holiday season.

While I am disappointed with the output of my summer garden, I find myself envying my tomato plants for their ability to take it slow. The pace of today's world, with instantaneous feedback, constant communication and easy mobility, is unrelenting. Unless, of course, the power goes out or a server becomes temporarily infected by an e-worm or e-virus.

In the absence of technical difficulties, it seems we should still be able to balance life in such a way that we can enjoy the life we are so busy living. There simply must be middle ground between this year's tomato plant and my ever-growing to-do list, which flourishes on my desk next to the dried-up house plant.

I don't want my boys returning home during their mid-30s because they are still in college and not able to hold down a part-time job. I also don't want them suffering a major heart attack before age 40.

Harnessing that middle ground, living it and gifting it to my children are some of my major life goals.

That is why, while waiting to pick up my son after the second-to-last day of band camp, I came up with my to-slow-down-for list. This new list is now posted next to my to-do list on the other side of the dried up plant just to the left of the clutter and dust.

On this cutting-edge list are my slowdown priorities. Topping it off is mealtime. Instead of grabbing something fast as we are often tempted to do while meshing everyone's busy schedules, I will make an effort to slow down our family for meals.

Getting up a few minutes earlier to scramble eggs and flip a few pancakes would certainly be worth the effort. Having everyone in the family hang out a few minutes longer in the kitchen to connect before heading out would be a nice way to start the day.

By getting back to packing everyone's lunch, rushing through cafeteria or fast-food lines can be eliminated. This will give everyone more time to relax, eat, chat and enjoy a midday break.

Supper is much trickier, since schedules normally don't allow for everyone to be at the table at the same time. However, if we have homemade food simmering in the kitchen, we might be able to train everyone to hang out around the kitchen table more often.

There is more to life than food -- I do know that.

That is why I also have writing letters to Grandma on my to-slow-down-for list. Grandma loves it when I send her letters. I just have trouble finding the time. When I do sit down to correspond in that old-fashioned, elegant way, I end up thoroughly enjoying it.

While recounting the activities of the past week -- or several months if it's been a while -- in a letter to Grandma, I am giving myself a moment to absorb and appreciate everything that is going on in our crazy lives.

Also on my new list: Sit with the tomatoes. Maybe if I relax outside for a spell after watering the plants, they will come to know me better and become motivated to produce some fruit.

And now that I've got my new list off to a good start, I must take a break from thoughts of slowing down to pick up those band pictures from last spring.

Micki Bare is a columnist for the Arkansas News Bureau and the Courier-Tribune in Asheboro, N.C., and author of the book, "Relative Expressions." She lives in Asheboro with her husband and three children. Her email address is mickibare@inspiredscribe.com.