Riding Metro North. The Return.

Posted on by Live & Learn

firecracker-lights-blue

5:30 am.
A brisk walk to catch the 5:40 train to Grand Central.
28º F. Cold. Can’t touch me.
Running on a four hours sleep. Can’t feel it.
Dark. Spring forward. Fall back. Fall back into darkness, on both ends of the work day.
But today, light beams.
Thanksgiving week.
A scheduled vacation week. And here you are, Day 2 of vacation and off to work again.
And, looking forward to the day.

I find an open two-seater in the Quiet Car.
I lean my head against the window, close my eyes, and replay last night.

It was late. I’d been asleep for several hours.
I hear his footsteps coming up the stairs. He calls out:
“Zeke!”
Zeke jumps off the bed to greet Eric, with a full body wiggle.
Our Son is home from college.
His Sister trailing him, giggling.
21 and 23 years old and it’s a sibling dog pile on top of their Dad.
And there’s the Dog, on top of the dog pile, barking.
Eric hugs me. “Hi Dad.” And he lies with me for a few moments, silent.
Mom, Son and Daughter move downstairs to the kitchen. I hear murmuring and dishes clanking.
I pull the comforter up and glance at the clock.
There’s a few hours before start time.

I wrap my coat around me to break the chill leaking from the window.
I look out the window of the train.
A cloudless sky. 23 billion stars. 17 billion Earth-sized planets. All sparkling.
BIG, and way beyond comprehension.

And yet, as big as all this is, it all comes back to the Unit.
The Family Unit.
So much bigger.

And Home again.

Notes:

44 thoughts on “Riding Metro North. The Return.”

  3. Love your creative train, David. Wonderful musings. I just hope day 3 of vacation week is actually ~ vacation. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in your dog pile!

  10. David, I have tears of gratitude for the lessons you know in your life and for the gratitude you display in knowing how important your family unit is. Celebrate as you do. You are making precious memories with your family. By the way, love the photo! Sparkling beauty!

  14. Aww DK. You got me. Puddle. You had me at: Eric hugs me. “Hi Dad.” And he lies with me for a few moments, silent.

    Savor and enjoy all the moments. Happy Thanksgiving friend.

  19. Been with the parents for the holiday–no Internet access…separation is painful….belated Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours pal. This post gave me a lump in my throat….

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