Day 1816: Last day of gluttony

The alarm rang at 4 am, but we were already awake.  Overhead, we could hear Colin and April packing up for their departure.  The thruway was deeply dark with very little traffic and as we traveled north to the airport, the wind picked up as a warm front passed through.  We made it there very quickly.  They use only carry on luggage and their boarding passes are on their phones.  Plus, they have TSA pre-approval, so there was no time to linger over goodbyes.  In no time at all, their nine days of vacation were over and they were flying westward again.

You would think I would be used to the departures by now, after all our kids are 40, 37, 33 and 30.  But, I'm not.  It nearly cuts my heart out to let go one more time.  We will see them for sure in July, but the rest of the year is uncertain.  April's twin sister is having a baby in May and so Denver will be their destination for much of the year.  I hope we can visit them in April during spring break.

We were home by 6:30 and did nap a bit in the morning upon our return.  The rest of the family was still sleeping.  Tomorrow morning, they'll pack up and drive back to NYC.  I hope we can see them in the spring, but that's uncertain, too.  Backpacking and musical occupy so many weekends that it's hard to escape.

So, we spent a quiet day visiting, walking and watching Harry Potter films.  Why not?  The themes parallel our current times.  My sons are not hopeful about the future and that scares me.  As an eternal optimist, I am battling their cynicism but have a creeping sensation that they are correct about DT setting off a global catastrophe.

We ate leftovers all day and I took stock of all we had consumed since they arrived.   I had cooked a fifteen pound turkey last Sunday for Penelope, and there was about three pounds of that left for Colin and April.  Then once the rest arrived, our family and guests consumed six pounds of pork, two pounds of bacon, four pounds of roast beef, an eight pound ham, four dozen eggs, four dozen rolls, six dozen cookies, six bottles of wine, a couple six packs of beer and cider, salads, veggies, potatoes, pancakes and lots of snacks.    And I cooked all of it!  Guess what? I'm tired.

Nearly all the supplies are now depleted and that's ok cause dieting starts tomorrow.

I am incredibly grateful for the time we've had together.  They feel rested, relaxed and recharged for the coming challenges of the days ahead.

I gave each of the kids a copy of my book, "Molly's First Christmas,"  just in case this is her last Christmas.   She got plenty of loving while they were home.