The Agony and the Ecstasy
What could conceivably be more difficult, more painful, than having to say goodbye yet again to a loved one? Children who live far away from their parents. But who, as adults, have their own lives to live, their own careers to pursue, their own satisfactions to experience. All of which have taken them, for one reason or another, some distance geographically from where they started out.
So the parents, having enjoyed a too-short but wonderfully congenial visit from their children face the reality of having to part once again. Quite the difference from anticipating the visit, being there at the airport or the train station, at their arrival, recognizing them popping into view from a distance, embracing them, feasting eyes on their presence.
So, it was up at five this morning, to dress and depart for the airport. Departure for Vancouver was for 7:00 a.m. with the necessity to be at the airport an hour earlier. No traffic to contend with, in any event, at that absurd hour of the morning. Only the birds were up, singing away - and us, travelling the empty road to our destination.
The week before it was to wave good-bye to another son and a daughter-in-law. The visits half-converging. A re-acquaintance with those most dear and closest. The surprise, after a hiatus of months, to see how they've changed, somewhat. Much as they must feel on seeing us. A fine time of year to visit.
Nicely, in the aftermath of days of heavy overcast and heavier rain, this day bloomed sunny and dry, albeit windy. Great planting weather. With the opportunity to go along to one of our many plant nurseries. And, at leisure, to look at the floral offerings, tamping down the mild grief of a parent bereft again of the presence of a child.
Didn't we get carried away! Flats of nimisia, mimosa, asters, portulaca, impatiens. And another, different type of plantain lily, a pot of chives, a pot of perennial blue flax. Salve for my pained heart. And two and a half hours of planting. A bit of stuffing for the garden pots and for the beds and borders.
The sun, the wind, the fragrance of the garden, the colours, the overwhelming and soothing presence.
So the parents, having enjoyed a too-short but wonderfully congenial visit from their children face the reality of having to part once again. Quite the difference from anticipating the visit, being there at the airport or the train station, at their arrival, recognizing them popping into view from a distance, embracing them, feasting eyes on their presence.
So, it was up at five this morning, to dress and depart for the airport. Departure for Vancouver was for 7:00 a.m. with the necessity to be at the airport an hour earlier. No traffic to contend with, in any event, at that absurd hour of the morning. Only the birds were up, singing away - and us, travelling the empty road to our destination.
The week before it was to wave good-bye to another son and a daughter-in-law. The visits half-converging. A re-acquaintance with those most dear and closest. The surprise, after a hiatus of months, to see how they've changed, somewhat. Much as they must feel on seeing us. A fine time of year to visit.
Nicely, in the aftermath of days of heavy overcast and heavier rain, this day bloomed sunny and dry, albeit windy. Great planting weather. With the opportunity to go along to one of our many plant nurseries. And, at leisure, to look at the floral offerings, tamping down the mild grief of a parent bereft again of the presence of a child.
Didn't we get carried away! Flats of nimisia, mimosa, asters, portulaca, impatiens. And another, different type of plantain lily, a pot of chives, a pot of perennial blue flax. Salve for my pained heart. And two and a half hours of planting. A bit of stuffing for the garden pots and for the beds and borders.
The sun, the wind, the fragrance of the garden, the colours, the overwhelming and soothing presence.
posted by Pieface @ 7:39 PM
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