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| Black hole illustration courtesy of Brookhaven National Laboratory. |
My youngest turned 18 this past weekend. Yikes!
Christina’s milestone birthday jolted me. How can my baby be 18 when she was born only yesterday? There’s a problem with the time/space continuum. That’s the only explanation.
Not only that, my daughter Stephanie will be 25 in April, and my son, Joey, will hit the big 3-0 in March. Whaaat?
So now I’m certain the time/space continuum anomaly isn’t operating alone. There’s also a black hole out there gulping entire decades in the flash of a hummingbird's wing. What is happening to the universe?
The real irony is that even if a method existed to induce that old black hole to regurgitate the time it’s stolen, I wouldn’t do it—and not just because that sounds really icky. I’m so in love with my kids the way they are today, right this minute, that no matter how wonderful they were way back when, it isn’t worth the risk of losing what exists right now. ‘Cause right now is terrific.
I admit to missing the tromping about of little feet. I miss the sticky kisses and the sweaty hugs, the munchkin voices and the silly games and songs. But, oh . . . what I have today!
Long conversations about life and love and dreams; about taxes and gas prices and college tuition; the weather, good books, spear fishing, and the pros and cons of tattoos. The hugs are frequent but not sweaty; the kisses are still spontaneous and sweet, but no longer sticky. I continue to laugh at the things my kids say, but now it is because of their sparkling wit rather than their misinterpretation of circumstances.
A pretty sweet deal, and one over which I’d do well not to quibble.
So the time/space continuum and its voracious companion, the black hole, continue to feast on days and years. That’s okay. While they’re digesting the past, I’m engaged in a banquet, feasting on the here and now. And it tastes delicious.
See you next for Book Blurb Friday!
Lisa
Lisa--I agree. And when you get a grandchild, you'll be able to enjoy both sticky kisses and sweaty hugs, along with kisses and hugs from your grown-up children.
ReplyDeleteI think this would be a wonderful topic for a Sasee essay. Do you hsve a copy of their editorial calendar?
Lisa, you are so right! I think this is one of the sweetest posts I have ever read, a tribute to not one, but three children. Parent Wise: Austin will be looking for Mother's Day essays this month. Send this to Kim Pletticha. Your post made me cry, good tears.
ReplyDeleteHaving spent four brilliant days with my daughter haunting the secondhand bookshops and pubs of Edinburgh and being able to equally read or chat as we felt comfortable, having a younger son whose frequent phone conversations reduce me to hysterics and who educates me musically and an elder son whose wife and three children are endlessly fascinating I can only agree - and these are at least a decade ahead of yours so you have much to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteVery well done here, Lisa. Time...it eats us up sometimes, but you have found a silver lining to offer!
ReplyDeleteYou look super young to have a 30 (almost) year old, Mama Claro! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, kids...they grow up in the most delightful ways. (But I kinda miss their craziness...it gets old, writing about Mr. Hall all the time! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm with that crowd who said this is the kind of writing an editor loves. I have the Sasee editorial calendar and am sending it your way!
Sioux - Now you're bragging. LOL Since Christy is just finishing high school and my older two aren't married, I've got to wait for grandkids. My grand-dogs and grand-cats will have to do. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteLinda - Thanks for the reference. I'll definitely get in touch with her.
Sandra - It sounds like you did truly have a lovely time! It's wonderful to know it just keeps getting better.
Claudia - No point grousing about what I can't change...especially when I'm so pleased with things as they are. :)
Kristin, my dear, I'll let you say that to me all day long. LOL Thanks, sweetie. When are you leaving NY to visit us here in the South? We miss you!
Cathy - Thanks! I'll be watching for it.
This is so refreshing to hear, Lisa. So many people I know would dial back the clock if they could, but I much prefer the idea of looking forward and believing the best is yet to come!
ReplyDeleteI can certainly relate. I still can't believe my daughter is in her forties. How did that happen?
ReplyDeleteSioux is right about grandchildren. So frequently, my granddaughter brings back my daughter's youth. I have only one complaint - time passes even more quickly than it did with my daughter.
Lovely. Just lovely. :)
ReplyDeleteThose three have the best mama. I can tell that for sure, all the way from Oregon.
ReplyDeleteGlad that you are all so happy!
Kathy M.
Lisa--Bylines will take as many submissions as your little heart would like to send.
ReplyDeleteGot you beat! My son is 33! My daughter is 26.
ReplyDeleteIt's so much fun to have kids who have grown up to be funny, wise, and wonderful adults. Wouldn't trade it for the world!
Pat
Critter Alley
Deb - You have a lot to look forward to with your wonderful children. :)
ReplyDeleteGrandma - I'm excited for the "grandchildren" phase of my life. I know it will be wonderful.
Tammy - Thanks!
Kathy - Aw, thanks. I sure hope so!
Sioux - Thanks for the info. I've submitted two. Fingers crossed.
Pat - Amazing, isn't it? Who knew?
Another Oregonian checking in. My baby will be 18 in September... and I'm just beginning to recognize how my life will change when she is out and on her own. Such a strange thought! I'll hope to experience it with grace like yours!
ReplyDeletePatricia - Thanks for visiting and commenting. It is a strange thing for me, even though I have two older kids. When each of them turned 18 I still had a younger child at home. It is bittersweet to know this is my last baby in the nest!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean! My oldest son turned 30 last month, his brother, was 28 last fall, and our youngest, a daughter, will be 26 in April. Sometimes I just shake my head and wonder when this all happened. But you're right - there's so much to enjoy now, and my 4 year old grandson sweetens the whole deal. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post about beautiful people.
ReplyDelete