Each morning. For 18 years. It would be early and dark out. I’d silently prepare for work. I’d shower. I’d shave. I’d dress. I’d grab my briefcase. I’d tip-toe past their rooms. Their doors would be closed. No need to peer in. They’re safe. And in a deep sleep under their comforters.
Today. I silently prepare for work. I shower. I shave. I dress. I grab my briefcase. I walk down the hall. My heavy footfalls ricochet off the hard wood floors and echo in their rooms. It’s early.
And it’s still dark out.
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- Rescue me…
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- Break away for 1 hour for one of life’s delights…
Image Source: creatingaquietmind via wordsanctuary
Have a great day, David. 🙂
Thanks AD
It’s these subtle differences that resonate the loudest, don’t they? The hardest thing for me to reconcile was that the kids were doing exactly what I wished for (growing up into awesome people, going to school, building productive happy lives, finding love) – and the loneliness in my heart was not relieved by this bigger reality. I just missed them. I still do.
Yes Mimi. Yes. Miss them too.
I used to set my alarm when my kids were home and always woke up before it sounded. Now that they are gone, I no longer set my alarm. For awhile I would wake up the same time as if they were still at home but recently I’ve been sleeping in……..
My alarm is still going off. 🙂
All things pass…as does time. You don’t realize it until you hear those echoes… 🙂
– J.
So true!!!!
Yes Jeff. Yes it does…
Whe our hopes come back as echoes, they are bittersweet. You’ve done well, David.
Thank you John. That’s it. Bittersweet. You’ve captured it in one word.
It will make the occasional times when those doors are closed again even much more special & grateful. Have a great day!
Yes Bro…
Sad, David…I know. 🙁
Gulp.
Where are you on the Change Curve, David? Have you done Anger yet?
I haven’t seen my son for nearly a year: he’s working and travelling in Australia (about to fly to Alice Springs on safari, and having the time of his life). We keep telling ourselves we’re doing fine, but it has its moments, for sure. It would be wrong if it didn’t, I think. They pass.
Didn’t experience anger. Have been a good part angry most of my life. 🙂 No, we are still in the “sad” phase. 🙂
Give it time. It will come.
I know this isn’t what your message is about, but the card next to your words brought this back to me. Someone once gave me a sympathy card that said, “This too shall pass,” and that phrase has stuck with me all these years. I think of it whenever I’m in a situation that is unhappy for me but is out of my control (at the dentist’s; on a plane in rough weather; seasick on a boat and hours from land; lonely and far from home) and I imagine myself in another place at another time – any time – in the future. It helps me get through the dark time.
Good strategy Anneli. I have challenges with Mind Control. Have a lot of work to do to pull in positive images and let them camp out there. Love your approach. At the dentist’s…on plane in rough weather – these are evocative images for me too.
Beautifully written Dave. Wish there was an “Empathize” button, or something along that line. “Like” doesn’t really seem to fit for times like this.
Thank you Sandy.
The clocks go back this weekend in the UK, so perhaps when I head out of the door early it will be light.