Phantom hourglass

Slm
Semalam YM ngan Anie, yang sudahpun bertunang n insyaAllah akn mendirikan rumah tangga tahun depan.
Naturally, the conversation shifted to marriage, soulmate, getting hitched, bf (or rather the nonexistence of one) etc, etc.
However, one of her comments got me thinking.
When we were discussing the choices that we make in life (her getting married and me getting my PhD), about how her situation is different from mine and that getting married is the best thing to happen to her right now she said to me:

Ko tu tak serius lagi

Huh?
Why she said that? I do want to get married but...
After the conversation, I thought about what she said and I've come to one conclusion.
Yes, I am not yet "serious."
Sometimes the loneliness kicks in and the desire to have someone by your side is overwhelming but I realize that getting married is not my first priority.
My friend thinks that for someone in her situation getting married is the best (her parents are getting old and she wants to be able to give something back to her parents before anything happens...), she even postponed her dreams of furthering her studies to work and get married.
However, for me I look at it with a different perspective.
Yes, I do worry for my parents, especially my father.
I ask myself, "Is this all there is? Is this the end?"
I don't know the answer, but I'm sure as hell not going to hang around and find out.
So now I have this burning desire to do all there is in my power to make it so that my parents especially my father could experience it all.

• Me graduating with my doctorate degree.
• Me having a great and high paying job.
• My brother and sisters success in their exams and dreams (like Lili who is now chembering to become a lawyer, Alia who's sitting for her SPM, Azrai who'll be sitting for SPM next year, Nim who'll be taking her PMR next year...).
• Me getting married (oh!)
• Me having kids (oh OH!)

....is it possible to achieve all these? Mission Impossible maybe, especially for the last two points. The last two points is not in my power.
So the next best thing is to try and achieve all the other dreams and make them into reality.
I'm racing with the clock but I don't know how much time I have left.
So yes, I am not yet serious in getting hitched. I have so much more to do and if God willing I should be able to fulfill the last two dreams while achieving all the other dreams, I am most thankful.
I am racing a fight to the end.
I just hope I manage to arrive before time runs out.
La Haula Wala Quwwata Illa Billah