Sometimes, It's Better

I wish I was creative enough to be able to write about some of the simpler and more meaningful things in my life without sounding both overly sentimental and outright boring. (And actually, I guess the "boring" part applies pretty much across the board).

With three of the four kids away at school, it gets awful quiet around here; quiet at least, in the kind of background activity I like.

Last weekend I celebrated a birthday. All the kids were home for a couple of days and we went apple picking together on Saturday. It was a great time: beautiful weather, out in the country, doing something special together.

For me the best gift came after.

I was in the kitchen making apple pancakes for the kids for dinner. While I'm pealing apples, Jake and Sam are in the other room playing together. Helaina and Rachael had decided to go through some bags that were in the attic and I could hear their laughter and talk from upstairs. It was a chance to be home together. That was my real gift.

Later the next day, I got to go on a walk through the woods with Jake before I brought him back to college.

Yesterday, I drove down to UMass hoping to see Jake march to the stadium, but I was too late. I went back home wondering how he was doing. I knew he was having a busy and emotional day, and I didn't want to bother him by calling. I figured I would give him some space and hopefully catch him later in the week.

Last night, Jake called me. I could tell from his voice he was drained. And, when I asked, he said, "Yeah, a little", which is unusual for Jake. We talked for a few minutes. I told him that I missed him earlier and he said he had looked for me, which caught me by surprise. I suggested that I pick up him up and we walk around the mall for a bit. I was surprised again when he said it sounded like a good idea.

So I drove down, picked him up, and we walked around the mall with a few of his friends trailing behind. We talked a little about his day and talked a little about his plans. But mostly, it was the kind of small talk people share when they are interrupting the silence of just spending time together.