We had a whirlwind weekend recently - spending four days with the
entire family and a multitude of friends in Greenfield, Wisconsin. Planning the busy weekend took some time, since the kids were coming in from all over (except for Brian, who was keeping the homestead fires burning - literally!), and there were a number of things happening during the long weekend. First and foremost, I need to thank my kids for doing so much to keeps things moving - you guys are the best! From "cinderella" in the
kitchen, to the pre-party grocery shopping to the liquor store run late in the afternoon and everything in between, this bittersweet visit home would not have been possible without your help. And it WAS bittersweet - driving up the driveway seemed so familiar but
strange - it looked the same and felt the same but I felt the undercurrent of "lasts" that were to come. Of course, walking into a house that had changed since we left (three men living there had meant some "redecorating"), most noticeably the pool being gone. Was our backyard really that big? And I had forgotten how green things were in the late Spring in Wisconsin. Even though the kids are now adults, in the house I envisioned them as youngsters, running up the hallway, having
"movie night" on the big blanket on the floor, but especially playing outside. Now, our grandkids were playing there, whiffle ball, bottles of bubbles and running through the sprinkler reminded me of 30+ years at the house. Driving to familiar stores down streets I could probably do blind-folded felt good but I found myself looking at things with "last time" running through my head. The cemetery sign with the potted geraniums, the four-way stop on the way to the Pick n Save, and the familiar turn on "I" going to our "bed and breakfast" at our friends house were so much more meaningful
when I thought I might not be there again. We will visit, but it won't be the same - of course, that was our choice. We felt so lucky that we got to see so many of our old friends, and spending time with family is always the best. Next time, maybe we'll get together in Louisville, or Roanoke, or New York City - or even Juneau. We look forward to it!
We had a whirlwind weekend recently - spending four days with the entire family and a multitude of friends in Greenfield, Wisconsin. Planning the busy weekend took some time, since the kids were coming in from all over (except for Brian, who was keeping the homestead fires burning - literally!), and there were a number of things happening during the long weekend. First and foremost, I need to thank my kids for doing so much to keeps things moving - you guys are the best! From "cinderella" in the
kitchen, to the pre-party grocery shopping to the liquor store run late in the afternoon and everything in between, this bittersweet visit home would not have been possible without your help. And it WAS bittersweet - driving up the driveway seemed so familiar but 
strange - it looked the same and felt the same but I felt the undercurrent of "lasts" that were to come. Of course, walking into a house that had changed since we left (three men living there had meant some "redecorating"), most noticeably the pool being gone. Was our backyard really that big? And I had forgotten how green things were in the late Spring in Wisconsin. Even though the kids are now adults, in the house I envisioned them as youngsters, running up the hallway, having 
"movie night" on the big blanket on the floor, but especially playing outside. Now, our grandkids were playing there, whiffle ball, bottles of bubbles and running through the sprinkler reminded me of 30+ years at the house. Driving to familiar stores down streets I could probably do blind-folded felt good but I found myself looking at things with "last time" running through my head. The cemetery sign with the potted geraniums, the four-way stop on the way to the Pick n Save, and the familiar turn on "I" going to our "bed and breakfast" at our friends house were so much more meaningful 
when I thought I might not be there again. We will visit, but it won't be the same - of course, that was our choice. We felt so lucky that we got to see so many of our old friends, and spending time with family is always the best. Next time, maybe we'll get together in Louisville, or Roanoke, or New York City - or even Juneau. We look forward to it!
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