I’ve come to the realization, that besides my wonderful husband, and the woodpecker who camps out on top of my shingled roof…..this house is empty!
I’ve been cleaning out dresser drawers, that contained bits and pieces of four daughters. It seems that when daughters get married, they take the things they know they will need, and store other odds and ends at Mom and Dad’s house!
It’s amazing though, the memories that surface and come to life, when going through all these treasures left behind. Oh how I enjoyed those “growing up” years, and they flew by, like a whisper in the wind!
It’s kind of like a play, but you can’t rehearse it. Well… I take that back. I think your rehearsal begins with the first child! That’s not a bad thing though, just in case any first child is reading this. (namely Brandi)
With your first, you pretend to be “super mom,” so the first born, really gets a lot of attention. However, by the last child, you realize that you worried and fretted far too much, so you let your guard down…..just a bit, and pick and choose your battles more wisely!
Oh…..who am I kidding……WE ARE JUST TIRED!!!!
ACT ONE…..I LOVED MOST EVERY MINUTE OF IT.
ACT TWO…..
is now beginning, and I can tell it is going to be a real transition.
For years, the focus of every conversation was related to “Our Kids.”
Now, my focus is training my “ever-giving….extraordinary, handsome husband to actually say more than 10 -12 words per day! This might be a challenge….I’m up for it though! I think they call this:
INTERMISSION….yOU finally have time for some pleasant snacks!
I tell my husband often, that the “best blessing” he gave me, was to make it possible for me to stay home and raise my own children. He worked sometimes three full time jobs at a time, to make this blessing happen. For that…….I will always be, forever grateful!
*
“Age doesn’t protect you from Love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age.”
Jeanne Moreau
*
For years I wanted to be older…..and now I am…..Yikes! I’m supposed to be
wiser, more experienced, self-confident and more courageous. Do I feel anymore of that today……..ask me tomorrow!
*
I hear that:
“At Fifty, the madwoman in the attic breaks loose, stomps down the stairs, and sets fire to the house!I think only those my age or older, probably understands what that means.
*
I think it’s a little bit unfair though, that you have to swallow being nearly fifty, and empty nested all at the same time!
*
I keep telling myself: There are lots of things I can now think about, study, or read about!
A good friend of mine told me that you don’t start living life until you are fifty-one. Turning fifty is a water-shed, a wasteland of self-loathing! “You know…..I really can’t remember how old I am anyway…….I was much too young when I was born!”
**
“I have always known that at last I would take this road, but yesterday I did not know that it would be today”
NARIHARA
**
*
All I really know at this age, is that “All the great blessings of my life, are present in my thoughts today.”
