We miss our kids a lot now that they are off at college. Still, there is a big upside to this empty-nester thing. Today, Lorena and I got up late, walked to breakfast at a nice little restaurant about half a block from our apartment. Then, this afternoon, we walked three or four blocks down to Jimmy John’s. Both time we had a leisurely meal. We have not had that luxury for years and years. We had to inhale our food and run off to a library, bookstore or laboratory as fast as possible because there was always a deadline.
Corollary to that is our apartment. We went from a big place on a big lot to a studio apartment with just barely enough stuff to get by. This might not last forever, but we are enjoying the latter. A lot. There are no lawns to mow, few windows, plates, floor and counters to wash, no equipment to maintain. It is fabulous to sit and look out our window at the most beautiful trees in existence, Douglas Fir along with the rest of the greener than anyplace else greenery in Oregon.
We know we are going to have to do something else before too long, but Lorena are very much enjoying the quiet, the communion with old friends, family and each other for now. It has reduced our urgency to do anything that might tie us down too much to do the “smelling of the roses” we are currently enjoying.
Betty Blonde #322 – 10/09/2009
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