A thousand years in one piece of silver

School starts anew already for some and coming very soon for others. Stunt boy returned this week for his final year of high school. Hardly seems possible and that Doodle, his sister, just started school not so long ago the day after he was born and now my son is a senior. Next fall he will most likely be off to college and on the first legs of his life away from home. Empty nest syndrome has been something that I’ve gotten to experience a bit in that my kids have split their time with me and with their mother over the last bunch of years. I have an empty house, then I don’t, then I do, then I don’t and on it has gone. Soon that will stop and they will be gone. Doodle has been out there on her own and not without a bump or two along the way for a while now. I see her like I see my mother, special occasions and holidays. Stunt boy will start that soon, far too soon for my liking and probably not soon enough from his point of view. I remember being in their place finishing high school leaving home and familiar things behind and striking out on my own, falling down only to get back up dust myself off and try again. I don’t think I ever really looked back and thought how it must be from the point of view of my parents. Or if I did I didn’t really understand what it was they may have been feeling. Probably was easier when I left because my brothers were still at home, until they weren’t, just as it was easier for me when Doodle left because Stunt boy was still at home. Now soon he won’t be either and it makes her absence more evident. As much as I lament their leaving the “nest” I am happy for them and try to separate my role in their life as parent and provider to parent and adviser. They are my adult children. Their lives are theirs and no matter what I’ve imagined would be their lives. Their dreams are now their road map and it is their life to choose the paths they will walk, even if they aren’t the ones I would pick. They will fall down and I will be here if they need me to help them, what ever that means. I have to be okay if that help is only to stand by and be silent as they dust themselves off and try again. It’s a hard shift to make at least for me and I’m sure many others. I don’t know if I really like the new role I’m in but I still have a year to get used to the change and I’ve been thinking too about what I’ll do next year, now that I finally got stunt boy to mow the grass only to have to take it back up again next year. A year off is better than none. I won’t have to give up the big TV for him to play Xbox when I really want to play on the Play Station. I can’t really say, “But I want to play my video game” and still sound like a parent. I mean I have said that and used the dad trump of, “I pay the bills for the electric and such, so un-ass the machine son” when he complained. I feel a bit odd doing that so mainly I don’t but sometimes I do. It’s good to be the king, but soon I will be the king of an empty kingdom. Well except for being the King of the Bastards but that is something entirely different. I mean the cats will still be here but they really think this is their house and I’m the hired help. Well, that’s all for now, other stuff to follow most likely Happy Birthday if it’s your birthday and a very merry un birthday if it isn’t your birthday Thank you for reading, please subscribe, Today’s title: Lyrics “A punk” Vampire Weekend Have a great day and play nice in the neighborhood. Ciao, PS 3 Gamer Tag: invisible don PO Box 4425 Roanoke VA 24015