Bittersweet

It’s fall.  My 70th birthday has passed and I am still surviving.  Thriving really.  My hip replacement was a success.  Everyday, I fall a little bit more in love with Buff Honey even with his minor OCD tendencies.  Could I adore my children and grandchildren more?  What more could a girl ask for?

However, fall is nothing if not bittersweet.  I remember living in New England and exalting at the glorious colors and, as beautiful as they were, I hated the season that followed.  Yes, of course, there is nothing more wondrous than a new fallen snow or reading by the roaring fire.  Oh, yeah….roasting chestnuts and all that.  Bah humbug.

This is BH’s favorite time of year. Ahhh….those crisp autumn days….perfect for his daily runs.  I admit I like them, too….until I wake up to 50 degree mornings.  In my New England days, winter was over six months long and I remember thinking 50 degrees on a sunny day in April was warm-ish.

Winter brought on my self-diagnosed seasonal affective disorder.  I am not a depressed person by nature, but how many days can one be cheery without sunshine?  When I first moved north from Florida, I kept wondering where all the people were.  It reminded me of bears hibernating in the woods.  People just stayed in their houses rarely venturing out if they could help it.

Just not a friendly climate for a Florida girl.  It’s October 1st and we’re heading back to our winter home in Venice, Florida in a month.  My last month here in Maryland.  And, even though, I’m leaving winter behind, it’s still bittersweet.

It’s tough leaving my family behind.  What a summer we’ve had!  So many birthday parties…
Brendan turned 2 in May, Reese turned 6 in June, Kevin became 4 in August, I celebrated my 70th and Will turns 10 at the end of this month.  Can you beat how cooperative my daughters have been to bear children in the months we’re in Maryland?

I had my hip surgery in early June and I couldn’t take care of myself without help for several weeks.  When BH went to Florida for his family reunion, my son, came everyday with his homemade quinoa salads and introduced me to Chipotle’s fabulous burrito bowls.  OMG!  Now, I can’t live without them.  What a pleasure….me reading for hours while he researched and planned his soccer drills for the fall varsity season.

My younger two grandsons are here in Baltimore so I’m lucky enough to see them practically every week.  I’ve witnessed Brendan’s speech expand from a few words to actual sentences..he is determined to be a verbal as his older brother, which is saying something!

BH hasn’t thrown a toy away ever, even though his five kids left years ago.  They range in age from mid-40s to almost 30.  So, the first thing Brendan says when he visits is, “Basement.”  Home to hundreds of very used toys and board games.   Okay, I give up.  I have stopped having fantasies about rounding them all up in huge garbage bags and heading to the landfill.

Kevin, the four year old, started public school this September….Federal Hill Prep, where he wears his uniform, navy polo shirt and khaki shorts.  He is very particular about his clothes…he has to wear his socks up pulled up to his knee….just like his idol, Adam Jones, center outfielder for the Orioles.  We face-timed after his first day at school.
Me:  “How was your day?”
Kevin:  “It was the greatest day of my life!”
He is nothing if not expressive.

The older two, Will and Reese, live in Pennsylvania so I don’t get to see them as often, especially, since I couldn’t drive for a few months.  But, they visited here a few times and I’ve gotten up there as well.  We send their parents out to dinner while we dance and act silly.  Going to their soccer, baseball and lacrosse games are a real experience for me.  Deja vu all over again.  I marvel at their talent….but I’m the grammy.  Of course, they’re good!!!

Now, it’s high school soccer season and we’re all gathering on the sidelines cheering 
Centennial High School varsity soccer where my son coaches the team and teaches math.  They were undefeated until last week when they lost in double overtime.  Watching him coach in his reserved but determined manner is very moving in a way.  Never imagined this in a million years….never thought he’d be a teacher much less a coach….and a damn good one at that.  But, I’m the mom.

Naturally, Kevin has to wear his soccer shots jersey to every one of his uncle’s games.  Not to mention his shin guards and knee socks.  It’s his soccer costume, you know.

There’s the annual local bluegrass festival we attend every September followed by pizza and beer at our house with its big backyard and adjoining park for the kids to play in.

Our last family event is always Will’s birthday on October 27th. It’s usually a raucous event with all of us playing baseball…or at least, some version of it.  We have to accommodate for very young kids and very old kids!

And, then, we leave.  Yep….nothing, if not bittersweet.