Well, here it is. Another new year. How will this one be different than past ones? Entirely!
A look back at 2008: I left my job of almost 10 years, moved to another state, live near the ocean, have a lot of solitary time, work for myself and write.
I'm still downsizing, getting rid of duplicates and the unnecessary. I'm focused on simplifying and living a conscious life.
Mostly I actually feel like an Empty Nester now. I've had one foot in and one foot out of the nest, but living at least three hours away from my kids thrust the reality on me. In the old days their friends might swing by even if they didn't, holidays at my house were a given, impromptu dinners, sleepovers or face-to-face talks with mom were constants. Now these events are things of the past.
My eldest, her husband and my granddaughter have settled into their own life together rather than being an extension of mine. My middle one graduates from college this spring and heads off to grad school (most likely a day's worth of travel away) next fall.
Still, I don't think I'd accepted my new status fully until the other day while driving in a car with my youngest. She's spending part of her winter break with me. I could tell she was a little stressed so I asked her what was wrong.
"This holiday is stressful," she said. "It's okay, but I was feeling like I don't have a home anymore, but I realize that my home is Morgantown now." She went on to explain that her life last year was different. She came home to our house with an overnight bag and just moved into her old bedroom. Her friends were there. Her job was there. Her history was there. It's different now. She's a visitor. Not a resident. Her life now is at school and she will springboard from there to graduate school far from where I live ometime in 2010.
I told her I was sad that my move may have made this hard for her. She said it did and it didn't. It was just a normal change and she'd just realized it. That's all.
Ahhh.
Parallel transitions through life changes. Very different, yet connected. I had a vision of the future and I was happy about it. My three girls and I are just where we're supposed to be and will be just fine. And when we're not -- even if we don't live in the same place -- we'll be together.
