Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Happy Birthday to me -- a little late

I kept it low key this year.  I'm 67 now.  I feel ambivalent about the number.  But I find my life rather unrecognizable after this tumultuous year, and I feel like I've lost some continuity somewhere.  I've made the usual lists and resolutions and am moving with positivity and hope toward 2015.  But also with some wistfulness.  Would things be different if I had an anchor?  A rock?  A shoulder?

“When You Are Old"

WHEN you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.”
W.B. Yeats

Friday, December 12, 2014

Seldom-seen son pops in for a visit

It wasn't exactly a happy occasion.  My first ex-husband's wife, step-mother to my sons, died after a long illness.  My son who lives in Delaware made some fast arrangements and showed up to spend five days with us.  I'm sorry for the family's loss, but I was so happy to see my son.

With just 24 hours notice, I pulled together a Christmas dinner.  And for the first time in almost six years, I had all of my kids together at once.  It was fun.  Food was good.  Yes, we had our vegan guest again, and no problem.  I know how to handle that.  I actually did a little less cooking this time and bought more prepared items just for lack of prep time. 

My kids are having a great time spending lot of time with their younger brother.  He lives in Delaware, but his own two kids live in Virginia. Consequently, all of his time off is spent getting his kids for visits and he just hasn't been able to squeeze in a visit for years.  But we're hoping this summer we'll have him and the kids out here.

But for now, just basking in the love and joy of the season and a rare visit with my son.