But not this fall. This fall we are preparing for a move, with a timetable yet to be determined. We hope it will happen soon, as my husband is already living and working in our new town, but first we have to sell our house here. So even though the children and I remain behind, we have cleared the schedule of all the aforementioned activities. I don't want to pay for classes that we will likely not finish. I can't commit to accompany a choir when I will likely not be here at concert time. Our new church choirs are rehearsing about 700 miles away. That's a bit too far to commute!
What this means is that as I consider my schedule for next week, with only a few piano students here and there (several have already found a new teacher), the landscape of my life is emptier than it has been in a very long time. How often have I dreamed of days like this, where there is time to spend more than 30 minutes throwing together a meal, or to actually plan lessons or get lost in our studies without constantly checking the clock, or to work on making our home more comfortable. But that sort of time has always been elusive. For most of my life as a wife and mother I have worked at least part-time. Now I find myself looking at about two hours of gainful employment per week.
It's a beautiful thing! But it is also a little scary. I have always wanted time. It appears that for now I have some. Yes, I have a mother to care for and two children still at home. But that's less responsibility than I've had for a while. With a husband and college-age son currently out of the house, even the laundry and cooking have decreased. So, no more excuses. It's time to carpé diem! The question is, do I remember what I did with the carpé? And where I put that diem? And if I find them, how long will it be until we sell the house and it's time to put them away again?
I think, before answering those questions, I might just take a walk. :-)
2 comments:
A few years ago some wise Loopers told me that in a few years I would have busy lives like them. I lived very rural at the time and couldn't imagine what we would add in our schedule that would be like them.
Fast forward a few years and we moved to the city and the boys now take piano lessons and two are in speech therapy and there is much more to do at church and we try to do cultural events with the boys like take them to the Philharmonic occasionally, etc. etc. and I totally understand what they were saying. I don't even have teenagers yet, I can only imagine.
Enjoy this time however long it ends up being. Spend some extra time reading aloud and snuggling with those still at your house now. Make these weeks or months be good memories of your time together before you moved. And do some last trips to places in the area before you move.
It's still summer.
J.S.
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