My mom flew out this morning. She came for the dutchkid’s birthday festivities and for a little vacation (hence the sparse blogging lately). She had hoped to get some nice sunny weather, but I’m sorry to say that the rotten weather followed her down here. It actually snowed in some parts of town on the evening she flew in. And I live where people have palm trees in their yards.
It was hard to see her go today, as it always is. We have always been close. I consider myself lucky to have such a good relationship. It mystifies my dh, and he can’t seem to understand why it is that I need to spend money flying home so often. We try to see each other face to face every 6 months or so. I would like it to be a lot more than that, but flying gets expensive.
As the dutchkid and I were waving goodbye, I started thinking about how much will have happened by the time we see her next. How much of our lives she misses out on and how much of hers we miss. It probably seemed more obvious this time because when I greeted her at the airport I was nearly blinded by the diamond on her hand. My mom is engaged. It feels weird to even type that sentence. I couldn’t be happier for her. My parents divorced when I was in college, but it was a long time coming. My mom deserves to be with someone who will make her happy.
It just occurred to me today how her life will be totally different in the near future. And totally foreign to me. I have met her fiancé, but I don’t know him that well. I felt sort of like I did when I came home after moving out of my parents house and found out that my younger brother had taken my room (or was it my sister? I can’t remember). It was very strange looking at some photos she had brought of a Christmas party with his family. How odd that she will be a part of a new family, one that I know almost nothing about. It’s so true that life goes on, even when you’re not there to witness it.
Growing up in the same area my whole life and being close to lots of extended family, I tend to imagine the dutchkid growing up like I did… but the reality is that her aunts and uncles and cousins will be unfamiliar to her. Heck, her new Grandpa-to-be is unfamiliar to me. We don’t even intend to go back to that area after dh retires from the Army. My dh insists that he will never live there voluntarily again. How do families work when you live far away? I guess I’m going to have to figure that one out.
Oh wow! Lot’s of happings! Dutchkid is so cute. What a honey! I’m glad she enjoyed the festivities.
My goodness! Your mom is engaged. Congratulations to her. That’s kinda crazy. I understand some of your questions/musings on family. I wonder some of the same things. We’re just close enough that we see one side or the other every 2-3 mo. But I still wish it was more. Hang in there! We’ll learn. We’ll adapt.