Life has been busy. Back in March, I promised to write more regularly and I’ve not been back. Well, as I’m sure it has for many of you, life has intervened. In that time, we’ve begun preparing our house to be listed for sale August 1st. I have (almost singlehandedly) repainted the dining room, living room, front hall and upstairs hall as well as the master bedroom. I have also scraped, primed and painted the basement walls (white, with red and gray stripes for contrast) and floor (gray). Then I repainted it again after our recent rainstorm washed some of it away. In addition, we have stripped, stained and completely refinished the hardwood floor in the sunroom. We are now working on hardwood floors in our living and dining rooms.
In addition to that, our “baby” graduated from high school at the end of May, thereby ending our 12 year connection with the extended family of parochial high school parents. We became somewhat of a tight group, but both Terry and I are ready to move on.
Finally, last weekend, my oldest child, my sweet baby Kate, married the love of her life in the most beautiful wedding I have ever seen. She looked like a princess and her groom, like the happiest man on earth. They are currently cruising Greek Isles to celebrate their new life together.
Soon, we will take our summer family vacation and when we return, our two youngest will head off to college; our baby for the first time. This will leave their father and I with an empty house, except for the three cocker spaniels that have wormed their way into my affections.
This has been a wonderful city, home and lifestyle in which to raise a family. But it has its limitations in what it offers the two of us who are left. We have found a place that fits us better and can now begin to make that transition.
Also, I was much more flexible and laid back before I became a parent. When Kate was born some 24+ years ago, all of a sudden I had to plan meals and prepare them on a somewhat consistent basis. That requires planning and grocery shopping and having things on hand to actually feed a child.
Now that our children are more able to fend for themselves and will mostly be fed outside of our home, I can save those planned, structured organized meals for the holidays or special occasions. I will welcome that bit of respite and the freedom it gives me to focus on other interests. I will miss my children desperately, and will miss living with them on a daily basis, but I am looking forward to being a bit more flexible and laid back. I think it will be good for me, and for our relationship.
I have been called “Pollyanna” at times. But my focus on the positive is by choice. Rather than focus on how much I will miss the kids and the fact that I will have less contact with them, I choose to focus on the positive part of this transition: that is allows me to take the first step to my new life with Terry. I am looking forward…
To that end, this also marks a bit of a change in the structure of this blog. I am going to introduce more flexibility in it as well. Therefore, rather than adding a quote and a picture to every post, I will add those only as appropriate. At times, like tonite, you will hear my musings without quotes or photos. I welcome your thoughts, words of encouragement, and your sharing your own stories of transition and change as well. Please let me hear from you!
