Life's About Changes

There's a country song, How Can I Help You Say Goodbye,by Patty Loveless that says, "Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same". I'm all in favor of keeping life fresh, but often, the changes leave me melancholy. This past week I left my daughter at the airport so she could return to her sophomore year of college in New York - a long way from home. My sweet Mike is about to have a similar experience this week. He's taking a road trip with his son who he will then leave behind for his freshman year of college. In fact, they're driving as I write this post.

These changes are bittersweet for both Mike and me. As I've mentioned before, we live in two worlds - one with our friends and children in different cities and the one we share with each other. The passage of time is our path to finally being together and yet, it is that same ticking clock that separates us from our children and the lives we have so comfortably lived these many years. I'm ready to make the exchange, to spend the rest of my life with Mike, but I can't help missing my "babies". We will both experience a period of the empty-nest before we can make the final transition to a life with each other. The one thing I am certain of, is that is one more of life's challenges that we will face together, supporting each other and strengthening our bond.

The Olympics and a Lesson in Restraint

Yesterday I wrote about Mike and eagerly anticipating football season and watching games together. Well, football is not the only sport we watch together. We also watch baseball, basketball and hockey.

Right now, we're watching the Olympics but instead of the 5-7 second broadcast delay we're used to, there is a one hour difference. So I see everything an hour before Mike does. Of course, he doesn't want to know the results so I have to be very careful about how I react and what I say. I have to admit I've had a few slips. So whenever Michael Phelps would swim, we'd hang up for the race and after I composed myself from the excitement, I would call him back and not say a word. We did the same thing for several of the women's swimming events and several track events as well.

It's been a real lesson in restraint for me. Perhaps it will help me think twice before blurting something out that is better left unsaid.

It's The Next Best Thing To Being There

Football season is fast approaching and although the summer is my favorite time of year, there is lots to look forward to. Mike and I love to spend Sunday afternoons and Monday nights watching football together. You may be wondering how we pull that off. Well, all I can say is thank you technology and especially thank you Sprint. We actually watch games while we're talking on our cell phones. Since we're on the same network we talk for free (and boy, do we take advantage of that!) so it's a no-cost date.

The only problem is, 99% of the time, the broadcast I see is about 5-7 seconds ahead of Mike's. It takes great restraint on my part to not react and give away the outcomes of plays he has not yet seen. But it's well worth the effort to feel like we're together. Remember that commercial long ago that said - "it's the next best thing to being there"? Well, it's true and it's definitely one of the main ways Mike and I stay connected.

Mike also participates in a Fantasy Football league so we get on Yahoo's StatTracker together and it' s a lot of fun to cheer for his team each week. But beware, it can border on addicting! Tonight he's going to meet with his league so they can pull their order for their upcoming draft. He knows I'm there in spirit and I'm pulling for him to get an early pick.

A Preponderance of Three's

Well, I've been home from Denver for three days and it feels more like three weeks. I'm having some serious Mikie withdrawals. His next scheduled visit to Dallas is not until mid-September when he's coming for my birthday - more than a month from now! I was looking at the calendar trying to figure out when I could go back to Denver but it's not looking good any time soon. Our schedules are just too crazy right now.

Adding to my anxiety is my cell phone, which is having major battery issues these days. I've had the phone for less than three years (I got it right after Mike's first visit) and I'm on the second battery. I know I shouldn't complain or be surprised considering how many hours Mike and I spend on the phone, but it's frustrating nonetheless. I also have three chargers, none of which seem to be functioning properly right now. I realize that three years is ancient for a cell phone so I guess it's time for a visit to the Sprint store.

RV or Mansion?

I can't believe it's Monday and my visit with my sweetie is coming to an end. Our time apart seems painfully long while our time together flies by. We've had a great time as always. We went to a Rockies game on Friday night which they miraculously won considering their recent poor performance. It was a family night with Mike, his daughter and her boyfriend, his son and his new sweetie and me, of course.

On Saturday we went to an RV show. It was our initial investigation into the world of RVing as we've decided to pursue that lifestyle. Our thoughts are that we will travel around this beautiful country trying to figure out where we will ultimately settle. The RVs were amazingly nice - some were downright luxurious - and I got very excited at the prospect of traveling for awhile. All I need is an Internet connection and my beloved and I'm good to go.

Then yesterday we went to a Parade of Homes. Talk about luxury and, dare I say it, over-indulgence. These homes were typically between 8500 and 9000 square feet and cost over $2.5 million. Of course, they were gorgeous but sadly, they were nearly on top of each other with very little yard and a beautiful mountain view soon to be obscured by continued development. Each home had great features but also things I didn't particularly care for. If I were going to pay $2.5 mil for a house, it better be exactly what I want and be sitting on a white, sandy beach. :-) I can dream, can't I?

Like Father Like Son

When Mike first emailed me and I invited him for a visit, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I had hopes there would be some romance involved. After all, I had such a huge crush on him in high school. But because we lived in different states and had children to consider, I never really thought about the possibility of it turning into a full-fledged relationship. In fact, in one of his emails to me he said his children had given him permission to come visit me as long as he promised not to move to Dallas. I jokingly responded, "Never make promises you may not want to keep." (see the post Planning a Visit)

I think we were both surprised and overwhelmed by the intensity of the feelings we had from the very first moment we saw each other at the airport. Even then, I don't think we imagined what lay ahead. Although we both acknowledged the challenges we faced, we knew we had to give it a shot. I could almost hear Cupid laughing at how, once again, he coerced another couple to ignore practicality and geography. We don't chose the timing or the direction of one of his arrows, we only heed the call.

And so it is with Mike's son. Just as he's about ready to leave for college, he has been pierced by Cupid's weapon of choice. The question now, is how deeply? Although I don't want him to suffer the emotional roller coaster that's been our experience, I do hope he will become more sympathetic to the plight Mike and I share. Time (and distance) will tell.