A happy surprise visit

David came home last night looking tired.  He’s been sick for the last few days and subsisting on canned soup and lots of fluids, but yesterday evening the worst of it started to lift, so he dragged himself to the ferry and came here for some home comfort and mothering. 

I whipped up a batch of gingersnaps, his favorite childhood cookies.  Nice and crisp on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside with a half of a melted marshmallow on the top. 

And when he arrived, a little after ten, I made him a hearty sandwich on a fresh baguette and it did my heart good to watch him eat it.  He seemed hungry.  Said it was his first solid food for a few days.  Then he downed several cookies and I made him a large mug of hot fresh squeezed lemon and honey and boiling water. 

Will came ambling into the kitchen/family room.  “When did you get here?“  He said, first surprise and then delight, in rapid succession, flying across his face.

It was lovely, having both boys here.  I didn’t want to go to bed, even though it was late.  And I missed Emily as well. 

Hard to believe this phase of my life is going to be over soon.  Was wondering if I should rethink the whole, selling this big old house and downsizing. 

It’s nice for them all to have some place to come home to.  But then again, would it be too lonely?  If we stayed here, would Don and I feel like two lonely ghosts, rattling around this big old place, waiting for the children to come home for a few days or a week so that we could start our lives again?  Do the kids prefer to come home here?  They don’t know this house well, but they know it some.  Is coming here a comfort to them?  Or would they prefer, now that Don and I won’t have the structure and restrictions of a daily school or work schedule, that after next year, we are the ones who pick up and go visit?  They’ll have jobs, limited vacation time, whereas Don and I will have all the flexibility in the world. 

What’s the best thing to do?  I don’t know.  I guess when everyone comes home this Christmas, we can all talk about it and figure out what is best.  Make a family decision.

Posted by Meg Tilly on Sunday, November 09, 2008 in Chewing the Fat