Once when I was visiting my Grandparents in Northern Wisconsin and it came time to leave, I left one of Christian's pacifiers strategically placed in between the bed sheets. I did this so that hours after we had left, when my Nonnie went to change the bed sheets, she would discover the pacifier, hold it in her hand and remember what it was like to have him there right at her house. Times with my family have become a really precious commodity. With my marriage came a move, not that far, but far enough to keep an inconvenient distance between myself and my family. This week, my Uncle and Grandparents came to the MOV for a visit. Our visit went well. We all enjoyed introducing the Cheeseheads to Southeastern Ohio. Nonnie and Papa could not get over their new Great Granddaughter and how big their Great Grandson had gotten in the last 3 years since they saw him last. We celebrated Nonnie and Papa's 53rd wedding anniversary while they were here and all sang Happy Birthday to Ashly yesterday for her 18th Birthday. It's crisp and fall now. Leaves are starting to fall, a few are starting to change and the feel of the season is more structured and routine now again.
Yesterday, Nonnie did her "end of a trip" laundry. Down in the basement, I found one of her Peds on the floor that she must have dropped while taking her laundry upstairs. I found it's mate in my washing machine with my load of towels, still wet, and the thought crossed my mind how funny it would have been if she had left a little reminder of herself, like the pacifier by leaving her Peds on purpose!
As I sit here, I have the familiar empty feeling in my heart of when it's time to stand on the driveway and watch my family leave. I always stand and wait until I cannot see the tail lights from the car anymore. It doesn't matter how cold it is, how early in the morning nor how little I am wearing at the time, I always always always stay. It's as if I am truly savoring each last moment until I am reunited with them again and silently thanking God for the time allowed to spend with them. Sadness always envelops me, but I suppose it's a good way to really appreciate the few moments I have with my faraway family. Right now it's only 6:27AM. I am going to try to catch a couple more winks before I have a houseful up for the day.
Yesterday, Nonnie did her "end of a trip" laundry. Down in the basement, I found one of her Peds on the floor that she must have dropped while taking her laundry upstairs. I found it's mate in my washing machine with my load of towels, still wet, and the thought crossed my mind how funny it would have been if she had left a little reminder of herself, like the pacifier by leaving her Peds on purpose!
As I sit here, I have the familiar empty feeling in my heart of when it's time to stand on the driveway and watch my family leave. I always stand and wait until I cannot see the tail lights from the car anymore. It doesn't matter how cold it is, how early in the morning nor how little I am wearing at the time, I always always always stay. It's as if I am truly savoring each last moment until I am reunited with them again and silently thanking God for the time allowed to spend with them. Sadness always envelops me, but I suppose it's a good way to really appreciate the few moments I have with my faraway family. Right now it's only 6:27AM. I am going to try to catch a couple more winks before I have a houseful up for the day.
