Up the Creek

Sometimes things will happen to you during your young empty nest years that will make you start to understand that these years are not as bad as you first thought.

Yesterday was one of those days for me.

My brother and SIL called to tell me they were in town and asked if I would like to have lunch. I immediately said, "Yes!" Because I could.

When the lovelies were coming along, I would have said something like, "I really wish I could," followed immediately by something like this:

• "but I have to take someone to the dentist/orthodontist/doctor."
• "but I have to take someone to practice/rehearsal/class/lesson."
• "but we're on our way to a game/performance."
• "but I have to take the girls school shopping."
• "but I have to pick the girls up from school."
• "but the girls have company over right now."
• "but someone is not feeling well."
• "but there is no one to watch the girls right now."
• "but we are on our way to a movie/the beach/wherever."

Not yesterday. No Siree Bob! It was a "YES" plain and simple. And so we went.

It's actually nice to be able to spend time with my brother and SIL. We can do this kind of thing whenever we want to now. I like that.

We went to Red's Ice House on Shem Creek. Funny, Deanie used to work there in the summers during her college years which made us think of her and miss her. Red's is not a place one frequents when one is looking to eat only healthy/organic type foods so we don't go often- like maybe once every year or two. Plus, it's really more about the younger crowd- fried foods, bars, bands at night. You know, the sort of place we sought out during our college and pre-parent years. But when we do go we have a good time and we eat that food that we don't eat anymore. And then there's the very appealing view. Yesterday was no exception. We had a fabulous view of shrimp boats---

and a few 'other' boats---

and some kayakers (is that a word?) adding a little color---

and a chocolate lab enjoying a day on the water-"Avast ye land lubbers! Thar be pirates 'round here!"---

and a laughing gull---

and a pelican---

and a dolphin, or a porpoise...whatever, it was awesome---

 and a guy who had nothing better to do but fish and rinse his boat off....Hey, I'm not judging. I'm jealous!

Do I miss the days when the lovelies were little? Yes I do. Nearly every single day. But there are times now that I can appreciate the nest being empty.

Days when I can go out and enjoy the company of my brother and SIL and come home feeling good about my life and know that I am blessed by my family no matter what stage we're in or where we are.

I still look forward to the times the lovelies will be home for a visit. But I've learned how to enjoy myself during those in between times.

In between times when the kids are growing up are short because there are usually only minutes between drop offs and pick ups. In between times when the nest is empty can span days, weeks, months...How do you spend your in between times?