Labor of love

Meet Cutehead

You may have noticed Mama’s been mum again lately.  This mama’s been too busy to blog, bogged down with a bevy of tasks. 

Baffled by bedrooms, I’ve bandied items around the basement, and now that I’ve burst through the barricade, I’m happy to report I’m breathing easy again.

Usually here at the empty nest, there’s not much astir.  But just as surely as the cool wind and rain brought a change to the season – temps drastically dropped down the thermometer from 90’s to 60’s today! – change arrives soon at the nest too.

Oldest daughter is moving back to the homeland from that place down south.  She’s commencing a new chapter with a new job in the city near us.  And can I just say that I am ecstatic that she will be nearby once again?  Until she gets situated though, daughter will move in temporarily with the ‘rents.

So you know what that means?  Mama and Papa have been shoving and pushing and cleaning and purging to make room for daughter’s kit and caboodle.   First we tackled the basement to make room for storage of some furniture – didn’t we just do that not so long ago? Click  I Declare War if you missed that one.

Next project was oldest daughter’s bedroom.   Along with the empty nest syndrome, parents of certain age fall victim to another malady called SOE (Spread Out Everywhere).   Since that room possessed a somewhat empty closet (well, don’t look on the top shelves at the Barbies, books, and Girl Scout mementos), Papa and Mama took over the closet space with extra clothes, extra pillows, mementoes and pictures…and stuff.

That situation required remedy since daughter needs closet space while she stays here.  Solution?  Just move everything over to other daughter’s closet….no wait…can’t do that, there’s a wedding gown, wedding decorations, and a miscellany of other items belonging to middle daughter there.

No problem.  Let’s just open up son’s closet….oh dear.  Why does that young man have so many items of clothing still hanging in here?  Not to mention, shoes, backpacks, 9^th grade framed artwork from an art show, AND Papa’s suits (SOE, I tell ya!).   Pushing and shoving and squeezing uncovered enough room to transfer some items over there.

Time to address the chest of drawers.  Good grief, each of the five drawers is full of extra sheet sets, blankets, etc.   Now to where shall we divert this stuff?

All of this labor finally completed on Labor Day (Chapter 9, Page 5, in my Opportunity book) uncovered a plethora of paraphernalia and pleasant memories:

• 16 gowns including bridesmaids’ dresses from weddings past, Christmas dance formals, Prom finery, and one 34-year-old wedding gown (that one is mine).
• 6 high school and college graduation gowns.
• Assorted college textbooks.
• 3 high school letter jackets still adorned with pins for each sport (track, cross country, soccer, and basketball) and year won.
• Stuffed animals with special significance (Rocky 2, Cutehead – that’s him grinning in the picture – and various other friends).
• 1 lonely pair of Eeyore slippers strangely out of place next to the pairs of glittery, spike heels from aforementioned formal events.
• 1 Science of Scent perfumery set (oldest daughter wanted to be a scientist from early age).
• Childhood books galore, Barbies, and an array of special dolls.
• Keepsake gifts given to our three as babies.

So what do we do with it all?  For now, it’s crammed into whatever space we could find and waiting – just as it has for years – to be surveyed, sorted, saved, or shed by its owners, our three adult children.

But that labor of love will remain for another day.

©2011mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

I smell….school!

There!  That’s it!  Did you catch a whiff of that?  I definitely smell school, do you?

The other morning, I awakened and took a nice deep breath while I lazily stretched in bed.  And that’s when I caught a whiff of the air circulating in and out of our bedroom via the open windows.  It smelled like school.

I can’t really describe it with words, but there’s a distinct smell in the early morning air this time of year.   The days are still warmed by the sunshine, but the nights commence their descent into cooler temperatures.  I’m certain there must be a scientific reason for what transpires but I don’t know what it is.  All I know is that fragrance in the air reminds me of going back to school.

Even though it’s been decades since I jumped on a school bus or packed up my belongings for dorm life, that smell transports me back in time to the first few days of a new school year.   I can vividly recall standing outside my house, shivering a bit in the cool, morning air, excited and yet a little nervous, waiting for the school bus to arrive on the first day back to school.  Yep, the scent in the air reminds me of crisp recently purchased school clothes, clean white tennis shoes, freshly sharpened pencils, and pristine notebooks with no doodles defacing them.

This time of year, stores tout their back-to-school sales and the aisles overflow with everything you ever wanted to start a new school year with and more.  At the discount store, I maneuver past mothers with children in tow loading up their shopping carts with packs of crayons, glue, rulers, markers, and backpacks.   College aged students heap all those dorm necessities into their carts.  A walk in the mall reveals families purchasing school clothes and the shoe stores swarm with children trying on shoes.   I notice school buses timing their practice runs.

My nose is right.  It’s time to go back to school.   Gone are the days when my children and I piled in the car, school supply lists in hand, to begin the annual ritual of back to school shopping.   The arrival of a new school year generated excitement with transitions from elementary to middle to high school to college, another season of sports practices and games, different schedules to learn, and new teachers to meet.

After a summer of leisure and relaxation, the smell of fall in the air meant the hustle and bustle of a new school year was about to descend and we had to get ready! But now at Mama’s Empty Nest, the scent of school in the air just ushers in a new season.  I can sit on my front porch swing in the warmth of the afternoon, watch the school buses drive by, hear the chatter of students on the bus, and reminisce about those days of putting my own children on the big yellow bus for another year of learning.

It’s my second year of not sending someone back to school, and in Chapter 8, Page 22, of my book of Opportunity, I can honestly say I’ve made peace with that.  No marathon shopping excursions, no frantic run to Wal-Mart in college town because we forgot this, that, or the other thing.  I find extending summer relaxation into this back to school season enjoyable, but the best part of all is my check book is a lot healthier too!

© 2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Charms in the bracelet of life

Almost a year ago, this lonely Mama, sitting forlornly in her empty nest, bemoaned the fact that her friendships seemed to be waning.

Both hubby and I experienced disconnects in various aspects of our lives and our social activity was one of those areas.

I chalk up a majority of those feelings to the empty nest syndrome, although in one very important part of our lives, there truly was a serious disconnect.

But in the case of feeling friendless and lonely, the shock of empty nest reality definitely contributed to those impressions.   When you spend well over 25 years raising children, your life revolves around them and even many of your friendships and activities exist because of the season of parenting in which you’re ensconced.

One of the reasons I began writing my blog stemmed from those sensations of ambivalence and loneliness I encountered as I faced the empty nest.  I needed an activity, a new hobby…something in which to devote time and attention.

I also realized I wanted something besides my job to feel passionate about.  The timing seemed perfect to reconnect with my knack for writing, an art I used to engage in often but couldn’t afford spending time and energy doing during my child-raising days.

C.S. Lewis wrote: “When we lose one blessing, another is often, most unexpectedly, given in its place.”

For me, that quote rings so true.  When my last child, my son, graduated from college last spring, landed a promising full-time job in his field of study, and moved to another state to launch a new career and a new life, I grieved.  Shortly before that, middle daughter, who lived at home after college to save money but drove a considerable commute to work, also moved into her own apartment in the city.

Combined that felt like a double whammy, and the full brunt of two of my children moving out coming less than a year after my father passed away slammed into me like a head-on collision.   This overwhelming sense of bereavement definitely felt like losing a huge blessing.

But just as Lewis advised, I believe I’ve been granted other blessings, definitely most unexpectedly, in place of that loss.   Writing this blog has been such a blessing for me.  Stringing together emotions, thoughts, and ideas into words and pictures gives me much joy.  Actually receiving feedback in the form of comments and encouragement from those who read my words adds to my pleasure.

My readers bless me immensely, even those who have not let me know they read my blog.  I see their attention in my site stats on WordPress each day and I marvel to myself, “Wow, someone read my blog today!”

Some of my faithful readers reside in my neck of the woods and they encourage me just by simply telling me how much they enjoy reading this blog.  One of my girlhood friends keeps urging me to write a book; another has suggested I write a devotional.

Other faithful readers are my Facebook friends – still people I personally know – some near, and some far away, some friends from days gone by  – who also bless me with their uplifting comments and messages.

The experience reminds me of a charm bracelet.  When I was a teenager, that jingly, jangly jewelry   was all the rage and I wholeheartedly jumped on this fad bandwagon.

I added tiny symbolic mementos to my bracelet from places I visited or events that occurred in my life.

Family members and friends gifted charms to me;  each one meant something special and that treasured bracelet loaded with jingling ornaments now rests in my jewelry box.  I can still recall who gave each tiny trinket to me and what each one of them  signifies.  There’s a life story right there hanging on my silver bracelet.

Through my blog, I’ve gained new readers and ‘met’ fellow writers who have become friends as well.   One fellow blogger in particular has become a cherished friend.  We share a lot of commonalities, a similar outlook on life, and even more importantly, we share the same deep faith in God, which has given us a very real connection as friends.

If you had told me a year ago that I would find a precious friendship via the internet, I would have loudly proclaimed, “Hogwash!”  (I don’t really use that word, but that’s what I would have said.)   I’ve always been leery of cyberspace and my own children can regale you with tales of my consternation and admonishment to them to be careful online especially when making any personal contacts with people you don’t know.   So here I am, eating my own words.

When I related the ways this new friend and I have connected, my oldest daughter replied with a chuckling twinge in her voice, “Mom, God gave you a new friend through the internet.”  (Heavy emphasis on the word internet!)  She didn’t say, “I told you so!” but I could hear it in her tone.   And she was right.  And I marvel in my belief that God surely does work in mysterious ways.

Recently, my new, sweet friend blessed my socks off.   A package arrived at my country home and the return address was my friend’s.   Oldest daughter watched me open the parcel and remarked, “Wow, Mom, your new friend is incredibly sweet.”  She’s right….again.

There have been many bumps in the road of life lately here at Mama’s Empty Nest.  Some detours.  Some unexpected pitfalls.   Some moments of insecurity.   Moments when hubby and I are leaning heavily on our faith in the God who provides our needs.    During this time, my new friend has been lifting me up in prayer.  I know it even when she doesn’t tell me because I can feel it.

Her secret surprise package mailed to me made me feel special and loved with each beautiful item I lifted from the box.    She told me when she saw these gifts, they screamed my name – Mama’s Empty Nest!  She was right.  They do!

I want to share with you the joy this friend (not just her gifts) brings me.  The above photo shows the delightful adornments as they gracefully nestle among the other assorted items on my kitchen desk, thanks to my special friend.

Each time my eyes catch a glimpse of them, I think of her and our friendship and I thank God for that gift.  Today in my book of Opportunity, Page 20, Chapter 5, I count it an abundant blessing to have been given wonderfully dear friends, some old, some very new.  All of them are like silver keepsakes attached to my bracelet of life.

“When I count my blessings I count you twice.” ~ Irish Blessing

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Half-marathon + guitar = love

Last weekend, my country home was full of people I love.  Just the way I like it.

Hubby and I are starting to get accustomed to the solitude and quietness of our empty nest, but it’s so much more enjoyable when there is a little noise around here.   When there is lively conversation around the kitchen table.  When the sounds of a guitar being strummed reaches our ears.  When showers are running and hair dryers are droning.

We’re getting used to a clean and orderly house, but it feels more like home when we notice certain sights.  When the refrigerator and pantry is stocked full of food.  When there are backpacks and shoes strewn hither and yon.   And even when there are umpteen glasses left sitting on kitchen counters and the family room coffee table.

“The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.”  ~ Thomas Jefferson

Just like Jefferson, I am at my happiest when my family is home with me.   Last weekend, Mama’s Empty Nest was pretty full.   Oldest daughter arrived home from the South for a two-fold reason – first to go wedding dress shopping with her sister and to run our city’s half-marathon with a college friend on Sunday morning.

Our son, the youngest, traveled home Friday from the state next door to spend a little time with his sister.  He treated us with songs on his guitar that he’s recently learned and a few that he’s made up himself.

Later that evening, oldest daughter’s beau drove several hours to meet us for the first time.   Daughter warned us he might be a little shy.

I’m sure he must have been nervous, but he quickly and easily meshed with our family with no hint of shyness.   We found ourselves genuinely liking this thoughtful young man who has captured our daughter’s heart and who drove such a long distance to cheer her on in her first half-marathon.

I’m not certain where oldest daughter gets her love of running – definitely not from her mama.  Daughter ran cross country in high school and has been a veteran 5K racer, but this was her first attempt at marathon running and she finished in good time.  I think it helped to have beau’s support and encouragement.  He seems to be adept at making her feel special, and I really like that about him.

After all the activity and excitement, the nest emptied out once more by Sunday evening.   Son departed first, then daughter’s beau.   Daughter flew back south on Monday.

We missed having middle daughter and fiancé here, but they had an important ceremony to attend during the weekend.   Plus they are coming for a visit soon!  And when they arrive, sounds and sights of life will fill the nest once again lifting Mama and Papa’s spirits.

Someone once said, “The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing,” and in Chapter 5, Page 19, of my Opportunity book, I am thankful for the amazing blessing which is my family.

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

She said yes to the dress!

This is NOT the one!

Surrounded by mirrored walls and racks upon racks of white, cream and ivory-colored gowns with lace, appliques, beads, shimmers and glimmers, bling-bling and what-nots, my youngest daughter, my middle child, said yes to the dress last Friday.

Venturing into the city, we met my daughter at her apartment and with Maid of Honor sister and best friend bridesmaid in tow, we browsed for a wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses at a bridal salon.

While we sat in a row of cushy chairs waiting for our dear one to appear in a vision of loveliness, one of us remarked, “This is like the TV show Say Yes to the Dress!”  The experience proved to be almost as surreal for this mother of the bride as being on a television show might be.

On one hand, I was so happy and eager to watch daughter try on bridal gowns as this is her dream come true.   But on the other hand, I could hardly believe this was actually happening.  How did my little girl grow up so quickly?!  How could she be old enough to become someone’s wife?!

I’m fairly certain both my daughters expected tears from me while viewing the betrothed bedecked in wedding garb.  Truly, part of me did want to weep during this bittersweet moment – joyful with a twinge of melancholy – but reflecting back on the moment, I believe I was in denial.  It just didn’t seem real.

But real it was.  And believe it or not, this sentimental ol’ Mama did not cry.  As my beautiful daughter stepped out of the dressing room each time with exquisite gowns that fit her to a T, her sister, friend and I oohed and aahed and gave opinions.

I know my dear daughter well.  I could tell by her body language whether she liked the gown she modeled or not.  Her face smiled, but her body said no, this isn’t the one.  Even when the sales attendants told her how lovely she looked, or sister or friend would exclaim “So pretty,” I could discern each dress was not her cup of tea.

My middle child is a no nonsense person who admires simplicity for the most part.  She’s kind of a no frills girl, so when she told me several weeks ago that she thought she wanted a lacy gown, I was mildly surprised that she desired something fancy.  But then I realized that this child, now grown woman, has always loved things of old.

As a little girl, she loved visiting antique shops or colonial style homes or museums.  I very distinctly remember her announcing “I wish I could live here” in a 1700’s era home we were touring.  So a vintage look is right up her alley and wedding gowns of lace have a distinct vintage feel.

The first delicate, gossamer-like wedding gown which floated down over her head to settle onto her body, made her beam.   I could tell by the way she looked that this dress was definitely in the running.  She tried on several more after that, but came back to dress number one.   When the bridal consultant added a veil to the ensemble, daughter revealed, “This veil is exactly what I pictured!”

Sometimes, she can be a tad indecisive (a trait she no doubt inherited from her mother), so she surprised us all when the sales girl asked daughter, “Is this the one?”  and she said a decisive, resounding yes! We clapped, we smiled, she glowed.

After we got the ordering accomplished, oldest daughter and best friend began trying on several bridesmaid dresses.  They weighed in on their favorite but the opinion of the two other bridesmaid friends will be consulted before the final selection is chosen.

My daughter’s dream wedding gown is ordered; we left the bridal shop with her chosen veil and accessories.  Along with the church and reception site reservations, we accomplished another important aspect of wedding planning.

I feel happy and excited yet a bit numb.  I keep placating myself that I have an entire year to get used to the idea that my joyful, little rambunctious bundle of energy, who is now a grown-up beautiful, compassionate and gracious young woman of 25, will promise herself to a young man who vows he will love and cherish her for life.

It is Page 17 in Chapter 5 of my book of Opportunity and I’ve decided that in the coming year, I will cherish each moment I’m given to spend with my middle daughter who really is preparing to leave Mama’s Empty Nest to begin a new life of her own with her beloved one.

It’s okay.  I’m not going to cry…..yet.

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Blessings like feathers

Image source unknown

Blessings like feathers have been flying all over the place here at Mama’s Empty Nest.

There’s been a flurry of activity  and frankly, Mama’s been too busy to fire up the computer and write in the blog for a few days.

It’s Sunday evening and I have to admit, I’m dragging a bit from all the hustle and bustle of the weekend; and the weather has turned stormy and dreary;  but I’m nesting quite comfortably here in my home sweet home, counting my blessings.

“Home is where friendships are formed and families are grown; where joy is shared and true love is known; where memories are made and seeds of life are sown.  This is the place that people call home.” ~ Author Unknown

We jam-packed a lot of doings into this past weekend here at home.  With all the ins and outs, the arrivals and departures, the comings and goings, Papa should have installed a revolving door at our house.   This Mama was just content to enjoy the company of all three of her fledgling birdies plus one.

Oldest daughter flew in from her southern home for the weekend first.  Reinforcing my disdain for traveling by air, her flight Thursday evening was a nightmare. (If you missed my previous blogging diatribes about flying, you can read part 1 here: no-flight-plan-part-1 and part 2 here: no-flight-plan-part-2.)

Daughter’s flight was scheduled to arrive at our city airport at midnight.   Enter first disruption.  A rash of thunderstorms complete with wild winds and lightning caused all flights arriving at our airport to be delayed.

Enter second disruption.  After several exchanges of text messages, daughter then informed us that her flight was delayed yet again because of a problem with the plane.   This manifested into engine trouble – third and major disruption –  and that prompted Mama to start some heavy-duty praying for daughter’s safety.

That plane was grounded and daughter had to wait for another plane to arrive.   Once we got over lots of frustration for her, worry for Mama and a short cat-nap for dear old Dad, who was driving to the airport in the middle of the night to pick daughter up, we departed home at o’dark thirty in the morning to collect her.

Her flight finally arrived at 2:30 a.m. and we all crawled into bed at home at 4 a.m.  So let me just reiterate, I am NOT a big fan of flying, but I AM counting it a blessing that daughter arrived safely and soundly for a long weekend here.

Morning came early and we jaunted off on our next big adventure – wedding dress shopping in the city with newly engaged middle daughter.  That blessing I’ll write about tomorrow.

Right before we left our country home, son called from the state next door to say he was traveling (driving!)  home for the weekend as well (another blessing!) and that evening, oldest daughter’s boyfriend also arrived for a first time meeting with us.  We were blessed to get the opportunity to meet this fine young man.

So Mama’s Empty Nest certainly wasn’t empty this weekend, and in my Opportunity book today, this 15^th page in Chapter 5, even though the nest is emptying out once again, I find myself blessed beyond measure.

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” ~Psalm 91:4

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Just what the doctor ordered

Image via wikihow.com

“Middle age is when you’re sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn’t for you.”  ~Ogden Nash

This middle aged empty nest Mama has endured a busy week and next week will be just as hectic. 

So I’ve been looking forward to a restful and relaxing weekend and a short visit from my dear ones.

Come Sunday evening, the empty nest will be 4/5 full as son is stopping by on his way back to his abode in the state next door (on the east side of us) from his college friend’s wedding in the state next door (on the west side of us). 

If you managed to follow that, you’ll understand he needs a stopover with tasty food and a warm bed and what better place than his Mama’s (and Papa’s) empty nest?  Middle daughter is driving up from the city also to visit with her brother.

But before they arrive, this weary worker who wrought a week of wandering here and there, wrangling bins of promotional materials and goodies for giveaway, and warbling words of wisdom to wards of young whippersnappers is planning on some R and R (rest and relaxation).  That’s why I found this email I received from one of my friends entertaining and cute.

Knowing I’m in the middle of my busy season at my non-profit employer, my dear friend  created the perfect “prescription” for me and my weekend.  Please read “Dr. K’s” orders below:

“Dr. (not) K prescribes a:

Weekend of total rest and recoup.  Tomorrow sleep in until 9:30.  Have hot tea with sweeteners,  sweeteners being 4 cookies.

Then one long long shower or soaking bath, donning a pair of sweats afterwards.

Mosey over to the TV and watch nice happy movies for the whole day, stopping for grilled cheese for lunch and more tea and cookies for supper, to be followed by another hot bath/shower and a nice happy book for bedtime.

Repeat on Sunday, except for going to church.

Note here:  If you stay home on Sunday also,  the world won’t end, and you and God could have a wonderful long talk with a little communion on the side.”

I’m happy to report that in Chapter 4, Page 16 of my book of Opportunity, I am following my friend’s orders explicitly.  When I awoke at 6ish this morning, I promptly rolled over and went back to sleep.  And did I sleep in?  Did I ever!

For breakfast I drank my prescribed hot tea and included the sweeteners.  After a long hot shower, my body is relaxing in comfy clothes – sweatshirt and my crazy pajama pants with moons and stars.  (Praying for no unexpected visitors!)

I’ve already viewed one sappy, happy TV movie and plan to watch a few more from my spot on the couch, probably with calico kitty curled up in my lap.  It’s another dreary, rainy day here in the country so the allure of a good book to read is already enticing me.  And tomorrow, after church, I will follow the good “doctor’s” orders once again, at least until my grown up children arrive.

‘Dr. K’ sure knows how to write prescriptions, doesn’t she?  She definitely knows the prescription for being a wonderful friend.

P.S. You can check out her blog here: homesteadramblings.wordpress.com

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Such stuff as dreams are made of

I have a feeling my middle daughter had a tough time falling asleep last night.

I’m pretty certain she was too excited, wound up, happy, thrilled – the list could continue until I run out of adjectives – to let the Sandman visit her.

Why?  I’ll let Dr. Seuss explain: “When you are in love you can’t fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams.”

Yesterday, my middle daughter’s dream became reality.  That grown up young woman of 25, who has her own place, career and life but in my mind is still my joyful little girl, experienced a monumental day.

Her daddy and I wonder how all those years vaporized away so swiftly.  How did we get to this empty nest stage when just yesterday (or so it seems) our house was full of youngsters and toys and noise?  We blinked and our children became adults.

And now one of them is taking an even deeper step into adulthood.  Our daughter became engaged yesterday!

The engagement wasn’t a surprise for us because her beloved one had already visited alone to formally ask for our daughter’s hand in marriage and our blessing before he even purchased the ring.   Yes, he’s THAT wonderful!

We could tell he had spent much time in thought and prayer about this decision and he willingly shared his plan for how he would provide for their future together.

So after the blessing was given, he bought the ring and kept all of that a secret from her until yesterday when he proposed at one of their favorite outdoor spots.   Daughter thought they were going to be models for a friend’s photography session there, so the proposal is caught on film for us to see.

A lot of emotions are swirling around in my heart and mind.  Joy.  For certain!  Excitement.  Definitely!  Happiness.  For her and him, the betrothed, and for both of our families!  He already has fit into our family so well.  (Gasp! I’m going to be a mother-in-law!!)  She will be a sweet addition to his family. (Gasp! My daughter will have a mother-in-law!!)

But there’s just a tiny hint of melancholy floating around my heart too because my little girl really IS grown up, ready to embark on a life together with her beloved one.

And that is exactly how it should be according to my guidebook, the Bible:  “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” ~ Matthew 19:4-6

Woven into my tapestry of joy today on Page 9, Chapter 4, in my book of Opportunity is a tiny thread of melancholy as we begin another life journey, preparing for our daughter’s marriage.  We have more than a year to work on it though.

And I’m gaining another son!  And the possibility of grandchildren!  So I know the threads of joy will crowd out and overlap that twinge.  But for now, I think I’ll go have a good cry.

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Mama goes crazy, but not THAT crazy!

Image via hair.becomegorgeous.com

Today my daughters thought their Mom had finally gone dotty.

Chalk it up to the looong winter weather, the lack of color in my world, or the lack of excitement in my hum-dum empty nest Mama life, I don’t know, but I did go a little crazy today.   Let me explain.

I had a hair appointment for a cut and color with my sweet and vibrant hairdresser.  She’s a 20-something around the same age as my daughters, knows my entire family, and we enjoy chatting as she snips away at my overgrown hair.

She and her husband have the most adorable nine month old baby boy and I get to hear his latest accomplishments (he took his first step the other day!).

On my way to the appointment, I was thinking about how I needed a change….somewhere…somehow.  So I thought, well, I could change my hair.  I’ve been known to grow weary of the same old, same old when it comes to hair styles, and I’ve had the same “do” for a couple of years now.

My hairdresser was a little surprised when I cautiously told her that I thought I was due for a change.  We discussed some options and she got very excited!  When my gal turned my chair around to the mirror, she was anxious to see my reaction.

And I liked it!  I really liked it!  It was bouncy and just a little sassy for a change.  So I came home with my usual color, but a few caramel highlights interspersed here and there and a shorter and slightly altered style.

Then I did what any 50-something bored empty nest Mama would do when she is thrilled about a new look for herself.  I took a picture by cell phone of my new hair and picture messaged it to my two daughters.  A flurry of text messages ensued.   The following are the actual messages with my thoughts noted in (italic parenthesis):

Me:  What do you think of my new hair? (They are going to be so surprised!)

Oldest Daughter: Is it…..purple?!?  (Mother, are you insane?)

Middle Daughter:  Um..what color is that? (Before I declare you crazy, I’ll just check to make sure first.)

Me to Oldest Daughter:  Purple?!?!?? Heck no!!!  (What?  Do they think I finally went over the edge?)

Me to Middle Daughter:  Your sister thought it was purple!! It is definitely NOT.  It’s actually the same color as always but with caramel highlights and a little different cut.   (Seriously, now why would they think I dyed my hair purple??)

Oldest Daughter:  Ha ha ha, the picture makes it look purple!!  As long as it’s not purple, I like it! (So, if mom dyed her hair purple, oldest daughter would obviously disapprove!)

Me to Oldest Daughter:  No, it’s definitely not purple!! Caramel highlights and cut a little differently.

Middle Daughter:  It totally looks purple in the picture. I’m sure it looks so much better in person.  (Middle Daughter is ever the peace-maker, the mediator.)

Me to both girls:  (Sending another picture – a close up) This better?

Oldest Daughter: (after viewing the latest picture message)  It looks good, I like it.   (Only because it’s not purple!) Yep, definitely less purple in that pic, haha.  (Oh, see Mom, I’m laughing…it was just a joke. I don’t really think you’re nuts!)

Middle Daughter: Yes.  Very nice.  What made you decide to do that? (Code for “Mother, even though your hair is not purple, have you lost your mind?”)

So on this seventh page of Chapter 4 in my book of Opportunity, I can admit that I’m a little bit happy with my new look and amused a lot at my daughters’ responses.

Ha-ha, girls, you didn’t think your old empty nest Mama could still pull off a few surprises, did you?  Wonder what I would look like with purple hair??

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Sliding down rainbows

Image via freefoto.com

Anyone go rainbow sliding this weekend?

Weekends seem to slip through my fingers as easily as trying to hold onto a handful of water.  Before you know it, it’s gone.

I agree wholeheartedly with American author John Shirley’s quote, “Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them.”

Writing about rainbows on this 13^th page, Chapter Three, in my Opportunity book seems appropriate since St. Patrick’s Day appears on the calendar this week.  I’m not Irish, but I always think of leprechauns and wearing green in March.   Mention leprechauns and rainbows pop in my mind – okay, maybe I ate more than my fair share of Lucky Charms cereal when I was a kid.

You know what’s supposedly at the end of every rainbow?  A pot of gold.  And that thought brings me back to weekends.  I’m sorry, that’s the way my mind works, circumnavigating around a lot of things like a contestant running an obstacle course but finally crossing the finish line.  Hope you were able to stay with me on that one!

It occurs to me that we chase after weekends much like searching for that elusive pot of gold.  If we work hard enough all week, we’ll get to that reward – the weekend.  But for some reason, we think we have to spend every waking moment of our reward engaged in sports, activities, hobbies, parties, travel, or [insert your weekend frivolity here].  You know, go for the gusto!

The emphasis of our weekends must be a non-stop agenda of exciting possibilities.   And then as we start our work week on Mondays, we’re exhausted from our “time off” on the weekend.

Someone once said, “Don’t miss all the beautiful colors of the rainbow looking for that pot of gold.” I think that’s exactly what we do -  miss “ROY G BIV” (colors of the rainbow) – because we’re so busy jumping from one attraction to another distraction and by Sunday evening, we wonder where the weekend disappeared to.

Here at Mama’s Empty Nest, our weekends aren’t usually a frantic flurry of activity like they used to be when the kids still lived here.  Ol’ Mama and Papa’s weekends are pretty low-key nowadays, mostly time for a little rest and relaxation.  This past weekend wasn’t any different except that middle daughter drove up from the city to visit.

You would think we would plan something special, but we did not.  Granted she was exhausted from working nights at her hospital, I was worn out from week-long school presentations and keeping up with my administrative work, and Hubby just seemed tired, period.

So we mostly lounged around our family room watching television, catching up with each other’s lives, Dad helped daughter figure out her taxes, and we feasted on nourishing food, both physical and spiritual.   It just felt comforting to not have a busy schedule to keep or a list of activities to accomplish.

Even though we didn’t spend the weekend jaunting hither and yon, it somehow disappeared very quickly.  But the best part proved to be spending time together, enjoying one another’s company, and sliding down the rainbow of relaxation instead of frantically searching for the pot of gold.

“Sometimes it’s important to work for that pot of gold.  But other times it’s essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow.” ~ Douglas Pagels in These Are the Gifts I’d Like to Give to You: A Sourcebook of Joy and Encouragement

I chose to slide down the color green today, Chapter 3, Page 13 in my book named Opportunity.  It just seemed fitting since St. Patrick’s Day is coming.

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com