Having Jon and Sarah with us in Hawaii is like having a whirlwind around, sucking you up from your everyday routine to drop you into different places, trying different things. They are exhausting, but force you to try experiences you normally would not do.
We wouldn't have gone all the way to Hana on Maui, if it weren't for them. We wouldn't have gone whale watching. We are drawing the line at scuba diving, surfing and rock climbing although they say they've got something else they want us to try. We'll see how that something turns out.
It's hard for me to relate to their lives. My daughter, Tiffany follows a life routine that I can identify with. Jon has just never followed the beaten, safe path since his arrival in the elevator. Tiffany has always told me that he's lucky he's met a woman who is of the same mind and stamina.
They'll be leaving us next Tuesday unless we can tie them up with their mountain climbing ropes and keep them with us. After several months in Ecuador learning Spanish, they'll be moving to the East coast for graduate study at one or two of the university options of the many prestigious places from which they've received numerous acceptances.
Once they get their advanced degrees, they plan to live abroad.
Arrghhhhhh....
Why are they moving farther and farther away?
They've been together for 10 years now and whenever they leave us we're never sure when we might see them again. We have just three more days to make the most of their stay. What's next?
How about shave ice?
POSTSCRIPT: Make that green shave ice! Happy St. Patrick's Day everybody!
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| Jon and Sarah's rock climbing gear |
We wouldn't have gone all the way to Hana on Maui, if it weren't for them. We wouldn't have gone whale watching. We are drawing the line at scuba diving, surfing and rock climbing although they say they've got something else they want us to try. We'll see how that something turns out.
It's hard for me to relate to their lives. My daughter, Tiffany follows a life routine that I can identify with. Jon has just never followed the beaten, safe path since his arrival in the elevator. Tiffany has always told me that he's lucky he's met a woman who is of the same mind and stamina.
They'll be leaving us next Tuesday unless we can tie them up with their mountain climbing ropes and keep them with us. After several months in Ecuador learning Spanish, they'll be moving to the East coast for graduate study at one or two of the university options of the many prestigious places from which they've received numerous acceptances.
Once they get their advanced degrees, they plan to live abroad.
Arrghhhhhh....
Why are they moving farther and farther away?
They've been together for 10 years now and whenever they leave us we're never sure when we might see them again. We have just three more days to make the most of their stay. What's next?
How about shave ice?
POSTSCRIPT: Make that green shave ice! Happy St. Patrick's Day everybody!
Living abroad sounds glamorous (I lived in Thailand and Europe for a while), but nowadays, America is so unpopular. It's dangerous to be an American in many parts of the world. My cousins lived in United Arab Emirates for years, but decided to return to the US when life became dangerous in that part of the world. Good luck to Jon and Sarah!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as though you'll need a relaxing holiday when they leave;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm getting my response in early this time because I have insomnia, so I'm up and at the computer.
ReplyDeleteSon Jake has been our unconventional one, but he is also the one who stayed close to home and his lifelong set of friends. It is now daughter Jill who is back in training, headed for another attempt at climbing Mt. Rainier a year from this summer, when she turns 40. She's also the one who moved 1500 miles away for 12 years.
Your Jon is lucky to have found Sarah so early in his life. she sounds like his perfect match. Jake has not been so lucky.
Enjoy them while you have them, take advantage of every minute, even if you land in unexpected places. Oh, the memories! I'm reminded of the Dr. Suess book, "Oh The Places You Will Go".
Our children take their parents out of the box. Sounds like you are having a fantastic time with Jon and Sara. Can't wait to hear what they have in store for you next.
ReplyDeleteI know it must be taking you out of your comfort zone to have them visiting, but it's obvious how much you love them and will miss them when they're gone away. Do you have some form of video chat to visit them? I find it makes having my sister so far away much easier to bear. And then someday they will be having children and settling down, right? Plans change when that happens.
ReplyDeleteIt must be hard, not knowing when or where you´ll see them again. Enjoy your last days together.
ReplyDeletejust think of the new places you can visit...lol!
ReplyDeleteIt is hard. The more educated and adventurous your kids are, the farther from home they may go.
ReplyDeleteAll you can do is hug them when you can, be grateful they are happy, and embrace the technology that lets you see their faces when you talk.
Kay -- Shave ice sounds safe. They'll wish for it after sweating up a mountain in the future. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting the differences in your kids, Jon and Sarah are so adventurous!
ReplyDeleteIt wears me out just to think about them. And if you can't keep up with them, I can just imagine how your mother feels. Proud and exhausted. You'll all have to nap for a week after they leave.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful, going to Ecuador for several months. We loved Ecuador so much, we still talk about retiring there, but know we probably won't.
So, advance degrees in what area? What kind of work do they plan to do, living abroad where?
No wonder you're so proud of them, though, Kay. These are the kind of young people who do the things we all thought we might do when we were young, but never did.
I'm very happy for you and Art, to have your beautiful traditional Tiffany and your wonderful windblown Jon.
Thanks for your sweet comments on my blog posts today.
K
My son and his wife and son lived in Europe for ten years, then they moved to California. I know how it feels to have loved ones so far away. They are living their lives to the fullest and that's what we want.
ReplyDeleteI know you will miss them when they leave, but you had a wonderful time. Dianne
Kay Davies: Sarah will be studying Foreign Relations. Jon will be in Public Health (like his dad). Sarah will be looking for work in the diplomatic core and Jon will try to find work in health care. They feel these degrees will translate more easily into work abroad. I hope so.
ReplyDeleteI think it is so great that they have taken you out of your comfort zone. What a matched pair they are.
ReplyDeleteHope you can Skype or something like Djan suggested when they leave. That will really help.
Just think, where ever they end up will make an exciting place for you to visit.
Make sure your passport is current so you can visit them. :)
ReplyDeleteVery adventurous, those two. Sounds lovely. Idea here, hide all their clothes and car keys... then they have to stay a while longer.
ReplyDeleteI’m just stopping by to say Hello and Happy Saint Patrick’s Day.
Jon and Sarah remind me of my Jon and his Samantha. They also went east to school, and then were in Bangladesh for a year and a half. Like you, I'm glad they found each other many years ago when they were still teenagers and that they follow their dreams, but it is so hard on us as moms.
ReplyDeleteForeign relations and public health, wow. Together they will help save the world (and I'm not joking).
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you all.