At My Desk: People Time, Emptying the Nest 11/14/11

I am grateful for the wonderful people in my life. This week promises to be filled with visits and social time!

The dog walkers were walking in the opposite direction from the usual this morning. A refreshing change, though it’s the same walk around the fairgrounds track. Everyone is huddled in their coats against the wind. Dogs of all sizes and breeds are bounding around, greeting and chasing and sniffing each other. It’s good to see the sun again, and good to walk and talk. You can learn a lot about your neighbors and your town on a dog walk. Divorces, weddings, cheaters, trips, gardening, house painting, hospital politics, personality issues. Should you tell your friend you know her boyfriend is cheating on her? Why or why not? I usually don’t have much to say, but I take it all in. Today Coby and I take two strolls around and then head home. He gets overstimulated by all the activity. When I take the leash out of my pocket, he runs over and starts tugging on it. Let’s go!

The social calendar is full. It’s a week of visits. Our oldest son and his girlfriend were with us over the weekend, and we shared meals and games and hang time. Later this morning, an old friend of mine showed up and said she is moving back to town, which I’m very happy about, and we got to go for (another) nice long walk. We also talked deep talk about the meditation group we are both a part of. This sharing opened our eyes to group dynamics, and we gained some new insight. Wednesday my husband and I will get together with another family of old friends. I work Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is my Renku Group. And on the weekend, our youngest will come to visit, and I’ll be busy on Sunday with a Daughters of Norway function. And it’s not even Thanksgiving yet!

Cleaning and clearing the house, getting rid of stuff and keeping the pets and us flea-free are important right now. We are empty-nesters, and working hard on emptying and tidying and finishing the nest. A platter and bowl have gone home with the son and girlfriend. Truckloads of stuff have gone to the Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, and Waste Not, Want Not. Today I took some photos of books to sell on Ebay, and clothes are next, though a lot have already gone out the door. Some I am attached to and unwilling to give away, like my Scandinavian sweaters. These are worth good money. Some of the baby clothes have gone to a new home, but most are waiting in boxes for grandkids. Maybe I’ll try to sell my old Barbies, and some special beach rocks. Then again, maybe not. My non-existent grandkids might want them someday, don't you think?