The Miracle of the Pause Button

It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is to step back into some long distance friendships when the opportunity presents itself. I had the pleasure of reuniting with two roommates from fourteen years ago! Occasional emails aside, we have very minimal contact with one another, yet in a nanosecond of reuniting we were transported back to the 'flat' and a rather heated debate about skim vs homogenized milk. It felt as though no time had passed and any moment one of us would run off to an evening lecture or another would propose a chocolate run to the all night grocery store. Why is it so easy to pick up where we left off with some individuals? There is an often circulated tidbit on the web that talks about the type of people you journey with and 'the why' associated with each type of friend. I wonder if 'press pause' friendships are the friendships you keep for a lifetime? Whatever the reason behind this phenomena I am just thankful. It was so great to show off pictures and family and enjoy the time with one another. Did we make plans to meet again? No, we just pressed pause until the magical moment when we gather together once more. How simple. No expectations, no demands, just acceptance of each others' journeys and a quiet understanding that our paths will cross again.

They're Back!

The day has come and my little people have returned to school. I have shifted gears, with my paying job taking front seat to my other full time position. It was very difficult to go about my duties when my thoughts and my heart were with my littlest as he began his first day of Grade One. I kept a constant watch on the clock and tried to imagine what he was doing at that exact moment. It is enough to drive a mother crazy (it would be a short drive though, as I'm halfway there already.) He asked me if I was sure he had to stay all day and he couldn't understand why he was getting a snack and a lunch. It looked like so much food in his little Spiderman lunch bag. Funny thing was, when I picked him up he was ready to eat anything that wasn't nailed down. The only thing he could do more of than chew was yawn. He was one tired, hungry, happy guy and the first day of Grade One was deemed, 'awesome!'

My eldest, not to be outdone by her brother, kept up a steady monologue about her day. Whether I tried to talk to her about planners, lunches, making good choices or gym clothes the standard response was, "Yes Mom, I KNOW!" She walked in a circle around our main floor and talked the entire time. I know everyone who is in the class, where they sit, what they wore, who they like/dislike, what they ate for breakfast......you get the idea. After a solid two hour debriefing she deemed the first day, "alright." I think that is Fourth Grader-ese for awesome. At least that's what I'm hoping.

So we're back into the fall routine for better or for worse. What do I plan to do differently from last year. Less, is my answer. As I look at these little people of mine, I'm realizing that they are the bright capable people I want them to be. So in order to maintain some semblance of sanity I am passing the torch down to them. They can pack the lunches (with help), make their beds (I won't interfere), load the dishwasher (I'll buy plastic plates) and maybe I can slow the gray hairs just a little bit. At least until the teenage years hit, then I'm going to shave my head! That's if I have any hair left.

We Woke Up Dry...

That's right, we woke up dry. No, I don't mean bed-wetting, I'm referring to our latest camping trip. The spell is broken. We successfully completed a five day, four night foray into the wilderness and it did not end with rain! I am so excited.

What a wonderful trip, well at least it was from my perspective. Let's tally it up:

50 points scored for no rain

25 points scored for no serious cuts, bruises or breaks (that's huge with a youngest nicknamed Crash)

25 points scored for no black bear issues (there is always that chance when camping in the northern regions in Ontario)

25 points scored for two smiling children at the end of it all.

Of course there were the moments we want to forget. My youngest is not the most patient of individuals and is rather persistent in his requests/demands/pleas to go swimming, climb trees, go walking and fishing. However, the bright spot is the fact that he wants to do these things with his loved ones. All too soon will come the time when we are the last ones he'll want to spend his time with. We will be replaced by his friends and we'll be the ones pleading for his time and attention.

My eldest is not exactly a morning person and there is not too much room in a tent to 'give her her space.' Thankfully everyone is familiar with her rather skeptical view of morning. She does not see it as a fresh start but instead, as a re-run she's all too happy to skip.

I was just thankful for the time with those I love. Time to sit, time to appreciate the gifts we often take for granted. It is amazing how a dose of down time fuels us for the days ahead. I cherish the memories I have from our latest camping trip. They'll help sustain me until I can return to that quiet place once again.