Empty Nest Redux

Is it just me or does she look like the epitome of glowing health and beauty SoCal style?

I had graduation for my college Friday night; thank goodness a father-daughter college move-in road trip seemed like a great idea. So I celebrated with my students (note: If I'm going to continue to do this, I might invest in a gown and hood made of something other than 100% polyester. Holy 90 degrees yesterday) and then joined some co-workers at a wine bar for fancy noshes and the most delish cocktail ever--Champagne with Grey Goose vodka and a dash of ginger liqueur. O.M.G. All for $20. Not even kidding.

Saturday saw me lounging in bed before heading off to my company picnic down at Mission Bay--a gorgeous venue under any circumstance, but on an 80 degree day with a pleasant breeze? Lots of grass and sailboats and good food and, in an unexpected twist, Atomic Fireball whiskey. A good time was had by all.

Then it was home for the Little League World Series, which I love with an inexplicable passion--I'm just not into MLB anymore, but this is pure Boys of Summer stuff. Plus, a San Diego County team is in and they're so talented and I loved Little League when my boys played and their dad coached and umpiring was their first job. My team won! Tomorrow, after a morning walk with a friend at the lake, Mr. Fix-it and I will watch Japan vs. United States at noon. 

Good times.

It's lovely to have the bedrooms full and then it's lovely to have them empty. This is the way life is supposed to be now and I think it comes just in the nick of time--for me anyway. I'm ready for a quieter life. I've been watching Brothers and Sisters* (I am so a cross between Nora and Sarah) and Rebecca, the illegitimate daughter, told her mother Holly that she'd deprived her of the chaos and dysfunction of a big family. There is so much beauty and joy in a big family, but, yes, it is chaotic.

Mr. Fix-it and I are going to Fort Collins in mid-September and then Flagstaff a couple of weeks after that. We are blessed to be able to make these trips--they are so much fun.

Oh, and I had a great success this week. A couple of FB friends and I were super-heated over some inaccurate articles about eating disorders in a couple of online magazines--one you've not heard of, but one was Psychology Today. We started tweeting and I got one article pulled, the head of the National Institute of Mental Health weighed in on the Psychology Today article and we had discourse with the author--we got totally lame backpedaling, but it's a start.

When I say I'm going to lead a quiet life, I really mean in comparison to how busy I have traditionally been, because it turns out I can only sit still for so long. Thankfully, a coworker described me today as "freakishly efficient." I'll take it. It gives me plenty of time to tilt at windwills in the hopes I can contribute to making some incremental changes for the better in this crazy society.

 

*I love Sally Struthers and Patricia Wettig for their ability to move their faces and their wrinkles. Thank you, ladies. Now, THAT is aging gracefully. 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Smalltown Me]

SB looks happy and healthy so it's a great start to the school year! And sometimes it's nice to do a one-parent trip. We're already planning a year ahead.

[suburbancorrespondent]

Hooray for SB! She looks great and ready to take on the school year.

[Jen]

I hope SB has a great year! Something tells me you will continue to be as busy as ever.

[Jen on the Edge]

SB is indeed the picture of glowing health. This makes me so happy.

[lanes]

Hooray for SB and hooray for quiet-ish time for you before the fun trips in the fall!

[Cassi]

SB looks great, and in this picture particularly, I can see you in her face.

I'd like to be freakishly efficient :-)

[Green Girl in Wisconsin]

Your daughter looks FABULOUS. And I have to say, Jenn, it's been fun reading the metamorphosis of your life over the last 6 years!
Sorry Japan beat your home team.

[Karen (formerly kcinnova)]

By the time my last one leaves the nest, I'll be turning his room into grandkid sleepover heaven -- however, my dh and I are still hoping to spend a couple of months each year traveling /camping through the US.
SB is looking great and I'd love to know about her quilt!
I'd also love to know the name of that cocktail because I had never heard of ginger liquor and it sounds fabulous! Expensive, but fabulous...

[Busy Bee Suz]

SB exudes health and happiness! I loved watching Brother's and Sisters too; such drama and LOVE!
Kudo's to you on making changes.

[Brightside-Susan]

Glad all is well and that you'll be catching up with the kids in their environment, soon.

Also hurrah for your efforts to get some truth told out there!

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