Peaceful

Early this morning, summer vacation officially came to an end, and The Greatest Kid On The Planet went off to school. It was his first day of middle school, and the first time I didn’t walk him to the bus stop on day one. He’s a sixth-grader now, a big kid getting on the bus with other big kids, and walking to the bus stop with his mom just isn’t cool.

In a way, I miss the days when he was a little less independent, but not as much as I enjoy where we are now. Other parents often tell me to cherish every moment, because before I know it, he’ll be off to college. It all goes by in the blink of an eye.

But for me, it doesn’t feel that way. I remember the first time I held my son, how small he was, and how enchanted I felt as he lay in my arms, but it doesn’t feel like it was yesterday. There has been so much life and living in between that time and today, so many people, events, places, so many moments, all of them complete and fully felt.

Life is a series of endings and beginnings, and we try to make the most of each one. We love summer and being on vacation, and we hate to see it end. We enjoy the time off, and the beach, and the fun with family, and the sand and the surf. And I especially love marveling through the produce in the market, filling my basket with the gems and jewels that only summer can bring.

Now, it’s going to be quiet in the house again with The Greatest Kid back at school. But I’ll fill the silence with my own thoughts, and when that gets to be too much, Masako’s A Tale of Lonely Otter will fill in the empty spaces.

But even while the end of vacation is followed closely by the waning of our summer days, there is only a faint shadow of disappointment. For, as we say in our home, no matter where we are or what we’re doing, there is always something to look forward to.

The other day, while I was sitting in our kitchen working on my laptop, The Greatest Kid On The Planet walked in and started rummaging around in the pantry. And he was singing these song lyrics:

“Won’t you…come see about me?
I’ll be alone, dancing, you know it, baby.
Tell me…your troubles and doubts,
giving me everything inside and out.
Don’t you…forget about me.
Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t…
Don’t you…forget about me.”

I couldn’t hold back a small laugh, which momentarily halted The Greatest Kid’s forage, and he noticed the look of amusement on my face.

“Have you heard that song?” he asked. This question evoked another small laugh, which brought about a look of confusion. “It’s from a vine,” he said, which only made me laugh a little harder.

“That’s an old song, kiddo,” I said.

“It is?”

Oh, yes…

I love the way social media brings the past into the present, and the old is suddenly new again. My son is continually hearing and seeing things I remember from my childhood with no realization they’re from a previous generation. To him, they’re new. But for me, they bring back memories of when I was growing up.

That particular song takes my mind on a journey back to 1985. I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing, who my friends were, and the things we talked about and aspired to. I think about the person I was back then and everything she was so sure she wanted, and I wonder what she would say about who she is now.