Wait! It's quiet! I come home from work and there is no small child to run up to the door. There is no little girl insisting that I try to find her, even though I know that she is hiding in the only place possible... the closet. I don't have to pretend to be afraid when she pops out of the closet and says "Surprise, I scared you!" No, we are years apart from that now. There are no telephones, BlackBerrys, or cell phones going off simultaneously and no loud conversations with girlfriends (who were just over the house a half-hour ago) going on. We are days removed from that now!
She's gone! Not far... my daughter, her new husband, and my grandson live about five city blocks away from me and my wife. She has called us everyday that she has been gone but, that's okay. It's good to hear from her. If I said that I didn't miss her and the drama that has been her for 28 years, I'd be lying. Wait! It's quiet. The television can be on or it doesn't have to be. It's not essential that it is anymore. I can listen to an entire CD from start to finish. I can actually have a conversation with my wife straight through that is uninterrupted for a change and that is a first! Yet, I miss her and the presence that she has been.
He's gone! Not far... my grandson is just five blocks away. It seems like we were just getting to know him. He was just speaking his first words (although, they were not always recognizable). At least, "he" knew what he was trying to say. He came here unable to do anything. He left here able to walk up and down steps, run, and ask you for whatever you were eating (which he felt was his natural right to have some). I'm able to write this post without him showing me one of his toys or getting into some mischief (as all little boys will do) and me, my wife, or my daughter having to stop him. I don't have to say that I miss him... you know that I do.
Last night though, I fixed my wife and myself a nice dinner that consisted of baked mesquite chicken, creamed spinach, and corn-on-the-cobb. We had a sweet potato pie for desert, a pint of ice cream to go with it, some iced tea, and Mountain Dew, respectively. When I set the table for this meal, I put four place mats out instead of two. You know that I missed them.
My wife and I will now begin the process of rediscovering each other outside of the roles of parents and grandparents. It is a grand experiment that I look forward to in the days to come. My daughter will discover her husband, son, and in a few more weeks... her daughter. We will all do this just five blocks away from each other. A new chapter in the never ending drama of family life.
A-h-h, the bittersweet beauty of rediscovery!
She's gone! Not far... my daughter, her new husband, and my grandson live about five city blocks away from me and my wife. She has called us everyday that she has been gone but, that's okay. It's good to hear from her. If I said that I didn't miss her and the drama that has been her for 28 years, I'd be lying. Wait! It's quiet. The television can be on or it doesn't have to be. It's not essential that it is anymore. I can listen to an entire CD from start to finish. I can actually have a conversation with my wife straight through that is uninterrupted for a change and that is a first! Yet, I miss her and the presence that she has been.
He's gone! Not far... my grandson is just five blocks away. It seems like we were just getting to know him. He was just speaking his first words (although, they were not always recognizable). At least, "he" knew what he was trying to say. He came here unable to do anything. He left here able to walk up and down steps, run, and ask you for whatever you were eating (which he felt was his natural right to have some). I'm able to write this post without him showing me one of his toys or getting into some mischief (as all little boys will do) and me, my wife, or my daughter having to stop him. I don't have to say that I miss him... you know that I do.
Last night though, I fixed my wife and myself a nice dinner that consisted of baked mesquite chicken, creamed spinach, and corn-on-the-cobb. We had a sweet potato pie for desert, a pint of ice cream to go with it, some iced tea, and Mountain Dew, respectively. When I set the table for this meal, I put four place mats out instead of two. You know that I missed them.
My wife and I will now begin the process of rediscovering each other outside of the roles of parents and grandparents. It is a grand experiment that I look forward to in the days to come. My daughter will discover her husband, son, and in a few more weeks... her daughter. We will all do this just five blocks away from each other. A new chapter in the never ending drama of family life.
A-h-h, the bittersweet beauty of rediscovery!
26 comments:
This was beautiful writing Keith.
The old Empty Nest Syndrom eh? I knew you would get around to writing something on this. As expected, you did it beautifully.
This was very warm and humorous.
I completely understand.
Yes, Quiet is beautiful.
Peace be still...Peace be scary too! lolol..Nice Post Keith.
Hey Keith, I'm speechless after reading this..It made me chuckle a bit, but it also made me shed a tear for you... You'll both be adjusting to the changes in your lives soon.
You're definitely back....and with a vengeance!
I love this Keith!
Welcome Back Playa!
Kool Post...Been There Fam..You'll be just fine.
Loved the title and the photo...It fit this bittersweat post.
Welcome Back Fam.
This was the post I was waiting for, I didn't know if you would write about this this soon or not.
It's a great post..Thanks for sharing.
Hey Keith, introspective and humorous post...What We've come to expect from you. Keep it coming.
Hi Keith...So nice to read a full post from you...you were missed.
Love how you said that you and your wife will be able to rediscover one another. That's usually the turning point in a relationship. HOLD onto that and enjoy everys step of connecting, reconnecting and meeting one another in the next phase our your lives. We grow and change and accepting that is hard for people. We so hold on to what was instead of what is. YOUR very lucky to have family 5 "city" blocks away. I'm a little envious!
Love for a great day!
Empty nesting i see! :)
This is a great post!
That is great that they are only 5 blocks away...when I left the nest we were an entire ocean apart...in any case I look forward to hearing about how life will now be for you and your wife....and the quiet... :)
Hope you are having a GREAT week Keithmeister!!
Awww...that was beautiful!
That was really beautiful. I hope my parents can get to that place when my sister and I gain our own addresses.
This was beautiful writing. I left a message on your other blog explaining that I am in the process of setting up my own blog (If I could stay off of Facebook and twitter long enough -lolol) and when I do,I will be commenting more on a regular basis. I love both of your blogs. A friend told me about you.
Well Well Well
Nothing more I can say here.
Maybe there is, I am a talent agent and I think there's a book in you. You seem to have your pulse on emotions ...yours and others.
Now I am not talking about your other house *lol*
Anyway, okay I lied, I am not a talent agent but I wish I was so that we could get on Oprah's show with your first best seller.
But there's more chapters to write. I see one in which you get run out of your daughters house because you stay too long and drop by to often *smile*
Noise and mess can be a beautiful thang, and we sometimes miss it.
Keith,
There is beauty in quietness. I hope you and Roz will come to enjoy it. My fondest memory of the time when I was adjusting to that "empty nest" had to do with Snapple Drinks. When my boys were at home, I never knew what a Snapple tasted like because they "sucked up" drinks like sponges. When they left for college, I discovered what a full refrigerator looked like and tasted Snapple fruit punch for the first time!
I'm so proud of the men my sons have become but I miss their NOISE to this day.
awwwwwwwwwwwww keith that is sweet.
glad to see you embracing change - and wrapping it around you like a warm blanket :-)
That was sweet.
Well, if it would make you feel better, I wouldn't mind coming over for dinner sometimes. That way, you could still cook and not feel bad because there would be someone sitting at one of the empty plates *smile.*
Gosh, I know you'll miss them. There's something about good) father/daughter relationships that is unique...she misses you too, although she may not say it :-).
Be careful...peace is addictive. :-) Have fun "rediscovering" one another. I know what my definition of "rediscovery" is, but I'm bad. LOL
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