The weekend started on Friday, really. I took Sam back to visit his old school - for the second time this year. We figured we could squeeze in a quick visit because soon school would be getting out for the summer and then we would be out of luck until the fall. And who knows what the fall will bring.
So we swing by his old school so he could say hello and goodbye to old friends, including the Cafeteria Ladies whom he used to work with. We had little bit of lunch at the Student Cafe and then we headed home to do some errands and then swing by a grocery store for something for dinner.
Since it was Friday night, we watched an episode of "MacGuyver" which, thankfully, broke what was becoming a pattern of, shall we say, cartoonist caricatures. (Still plenty to critique, but certainly more enjoyable. We'll see if it becomes a trend.)
On Saturday morning, Helaina came over and Jake drove up from his apartment, for an early Mother's Day lunch for Mom. The entire family, sans Rachael, met at a local Chinese restaurant in town. While I enjoyed seeing the rest of the family, I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I didn't have a crown or fake tooth or whatever it is, teetering around in my mouth. So, I spent most of the time nursing whatever it is, and tried to keep it in a vertical position.
Aside from that (and feeling slightly ill), it as a nice lunch.
Shortly after the meal and back at home, Rachael was dropped off by a friend, and for the first time in several months, the entire family was together.
By this time, it was late afternoon and since it was now late afternoon, that meant that the Sample People would be gone from one of the two grocery stores where Sam and I go for our Saturday errands. Fortunately, we had anticipated this and Sam gave the Sample People a head's up last Saturday, that they wouldn't be seeing him on the following Saturday - but not to worry, he would be by on Sunday, instead.
On Sunday morning, Jake and Helena took part in something called "Goat Yoga" - which I have no idea why that is even a thing (let alone, who would have come up with the idea in the first place, and under what circumstances.)
Afterwards, Helaina met up with Rachael and they, along with their mom, walked around College Town, USA - while Jake returned home.
including visiting the aforementioned Sample People (who, all kidding aside, were no doubt glad to see Sam.)
By the time Sam and I got home, Jake was back, so he and I gave Sam some well needed quiet time, leaving him at home while Jake and I headed back to the grocery store. The remainder of the afternoon was taken up with Sam and I doing a double load of baking - for dinner that night, and for leftovers for the coming week.
On Saturday evening, Jake's girlfriend drove up to visit and to spend the night. But before nighttime settled in, she, along with the three older "kids" went into town to grab a bite to eat.
With the older ones gone for a bit, the house fell into a weird, cold silence - nothing but the ticking of the clocks - which is to say, it was pretty much like it is almost always these days.
But in a strange way, there was an underlying feeling of satisfaction... or contentment... or... something. There is something I find comforting, or perhaps fulfilling - in knowing that my children are out there somewhere, together, and knowing that they're enjoying each other's company.
So I sat in the silence and thought about that. And I listened to the clocks ticking.
Later, when they all got home, they played a board game, one that is way too convoluted for me to follow (even when I'm not exhausted.) But exhausted I was, so I headed up to bed while they seemingly enjoyed my bedroom.
Monday, which was the real reason we were all together, was Sam's graduation from the culinary course he's been in this past year. Like so many of these kinds of things, it can be very emotionally draining for me. I can't say exactly why this is. When it comes to events like these I find myself not only there in the present, taking in all of what is going on around me, but I also think about the past and all it to to get to this moment - and, needless to say, I wonder and worry about the future. This is true with all the kids. And this is true for Sam, especially.
I looked around this room of graduates - at all of these kids, with their variety of challenges and needs, and at all of the parents and families, who were there to support them, and who, I imagine, had many of the same worries and hopes and dreams - wanting nothing but the best for each of their own loved ones. Maybe I'll write more about this some day. Maybe I won't.
Back at home, and after a short visit, Jake's girlfriend left on her long drive back to school, back to The Big City. And then Jake loaded up his car with all of the food from the previous day's grocery shopping excursion, and he headed out on his long drive, back to his apartment.
Rachael bought her bus ticket, and Helaina and I drove her to the bus station where we said our goodbyes and headed in our separate destinations. Back at home, and before long, Helaina was gone as well.
And the house, once again, fell back into near silence.
It is hard for me to articulate, but there is something about these weekends, these weekends which are all too rare, when we are all together, suddenly, briefly. I think of those photos where, a split second before, an unseen drop of water had fallen and has given birth to droplets, now rising up, connected, yet scattered - captured before their inevitably landing, leaving ripples and memories in their wake.
