A Strange Celebration

 

Image from Freepik

How quiet the house feels, how tidy the room!

Only your bedroom slippers still lie askew

as if they were abandoned, switched out mid run

exchanged for strong and closed from flimsy open –

airport security scans every shoe.

 

Makes sense to keep the footwear light, the sole

limber, the ties simple. I’ve told you this –

chances are you’ll have to snatch at things you want

without breaking stride, instantly pull on

your boots, be travel ready without notice.

 

Have I ever told you? - that motherhood

is an entirely strange celebration

from first baby steps to that last slip-on

each step’s a stepping away, each milestone

an emptier room, slippers flung off mid run. 

Too much has been happening, all good albeit super strange. The offspring left home for the second time yesterday so this is empty nesting 2.0...hmmm...does practice make this perfect? I'm thinking not.  

For those who may be interested, he's reached his destination safely. Which is closer than NC but still a couple of oceans and a couple of dozen borders away and well, the time zone management is marginally less challenging but I'm older and less nimble, so it all cancels out. 

It's been a monthful of celebrations - family reunions, the Durga Puja and then this sudden relocation magicked itself in exactly a week. Stress and exhilaration combined in a mindboggling mix. Strange celebrations indeed. Uber thankful for all of them. 

Hope you've got ample cause to celebrate too this autumn.