Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Saturday, June 23, 2018

Empty

I should probably mention, right up front, that Husby and I are empty-nesters.
For the first time.
It's been quite an adjustment.
First, there were our six little chicks and those years of 'oh-my-word-what-else-could-happen'!
You know what I'm talking about.
Then there were the moving-out-to-go-to-college-serve-missions-and-or-in-the-army years. And the moving-back-in when those cycles passed.
A lot of to-ing and fro-ing.
Then there were the marriages. And the moving-back-in-with-mom-and-dad-while-we-save-for-that-all-important-deposit-on-our-first-own-home phase.
And now, with each ensconced in their own place, Husby and I are well-and-truly alone.
Fortunately, most of our chicks and chicklets are nearby, so there is still quite a bit of to-ing and fro-ing.
But for the most part . . .
Today, this being alone really struck home. (So to speak.)
I was in the kitchen. We had some overripe bananas that were just calling out to be made into the yummy, deliciousness that is known as banana bread.
Note: Bananas really do call out. You just have to be on the same wavelength to hear them.
Ahem . . .
I finished mixing the batter and pulled out the beaters. Then, out of habit, I called out, "Anyone want to lick the bowl?"
That all-important point wherein the lucky contestant is handed the big mixing bowl and a spatula.
And for the first time--ever--no one answered.
No little bodies came swarming eagerly up the stairs.
No one appeared in the kitchen doorway.
There was no fighting. No arguing over 'who-got-it-last-time!'
Nothing.
I stood there, spatula half-raised, and stared at my empty kitchen.
And realized that empty-nesting is not all it's cracked up to be.

P.S. Okay, yes, I got to lick the bowl, also for the first time--ever--but it was only slight compensation.

5 comments:

  1. It's hard isn't it? You get used to it but it takes a while...quite a while.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The empty nest is quite a shock when it eventually happens, isn't it? I have to say I'm enjoying it now, though :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Having never had a filled nest this is a sadness I hadn't considered.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You've never licked the bowl before? Not even as a child? That's very sad, but you can make up for it now. I've been an empty nester for quite some time and enjoy the solitude now. It did take a bit of getting used to but I was a loner for most of my growing up, since age 7 and even when first married my husband was in the Army so was away a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  5. We've been empty nesting for years now - our kids launched and never returned. It's weird in some ways and perfectly delightful in others (and I really don't want them back for more than a few days at a time!)

    ReplyDelete

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