A guitar hangs on the wall. Its broken string testifies that it’s been awhile since anyone strummed it. The half-marathon medals still clang a little bit when the rocking chair hits them even though it’s been a couple of years since I’ve run at all, much less run a race that handed out a medal. The swimming suit hangs on a hook in the bathroom. It’s been dry for week a two before the outdoor pool closed. These seasons have come and gone — the one where I played on the music team and the one where I ran half-marathons. Those were years ago. While I’m finally admitting this season’s pool time is finally done. It’s time to put my suit away.
The autumn equinox with its equal hours of day and night has come and gone. The days are getting shorter, whether I like it or not. The rain has brought cooler temperatures. A few red and yellow leaves were on the ground yesterday.
I may be sad to see summer go and I may not want fall to come… yet…but the evidence that my season has changed is all about me.
There’s an unopened package of crayons from years ago — likely five or more years — I didn’t need it then either. School supply sales came and went. I bought a package of pencils and highlighters. Apparently I still use those. I’ve had stacks of new unopened lined paper and stacks of spiral-bond notebooks on the shelves for years. My pantry is full because I’m not used to buying food for only two.
Instead of sports, plays, and debate schedules, we took off work, bought plane tickets and made hotel reservations. We’ll soon be headed to the Smoky Mountains and then soon thereafter we’re headed to New York City. We’re working on a trip to Seattle for the spring. In this season watching our kids ‘do their thing’ requires more effort.
We always said we were raising adults and…well…it looks like we’ve done that. They’ve flown the nest just as they should. Now that the raising part is done we’re onto a new season because being family is never done — it just looks different from here.
Seasons come and seasons go. There are always things that I’m sad to say goodbye to and parts that I’m happy to welcome. Each season has its gifts and its trials. I miss the ease of being all together but I also love seeing our adult kids thrive.
Sometimes seasons linger. Sometimes they change sooner than expected. Sometimes it feels like they slipped right on by. No matter how they come, no matter what my expectations are: seasons come and seasons go.
How about you? What season of life are you in? How’s it different than you expected? Any tips for transition?
#mondaysbymidnight
