Last night we said our final goodbye of the summer. Our farewells began in late July, as Kieran’s wonderful girlfriend left Portland to visit her family in DC. We’ve known Madeleine for a little over a year, but she already feels like family.
Next we transported Nick to Colorado where he’s started at Colorado College. Colorado Springs, especially where the college is located near Pike’s Peak and the Garden of the Gods, is gorgeous. Of all our three, Nick is the shyest and least outgoing, although he’s highly social, hilarious, and a loyal friend. He also is the most tied to a routine. It has been a bit of a rough transition as he was put into a room with a sophomore who didn’t arrive until a week after Nick and appears to be quiet and reserved. I know he’ll settle in once he finds his people.
Nick tells us he showed his James Bond movie to a bunch of people last night, and the theater is under the chapel.
“Apparently, there was an evening mass going on above us and they could clearly hear the bond movie the entire time. Which is just really funny to me because of all the loud goofy screams and gunshots that are featured in the movie!”
I think he’s doing fine…
Next we had to say goodbye to Kieran yesterday, which was harder than I even expected.
I felt like an emotional wreck. Too many goodbyes in a few weeks. This one feels the most permanent as he moved to NYC…and Kieran felt sad to leave us too. I’m glad Kieran will be greeted by his wonderful Madeleine. ❤️❤️
We had such a wonderful summer with Kieran and we all cried at the airport. Thankfully Christopher came along with us.
We’ve had kids in our house for 29 years, and I think that’s why it hit me so hard. Most people have empty nests way younger than we are.
To distract ourselves, we have taken off on an empty nest adventure! When I started my business 6 years ago, I set a goal of being able to travel for one month out of the year.
This is the biggie and has been on my bucket list for some time: we are traveling to Japan and Australia. We haven’t returned to Japan since we lived there from 1986-89, and I’ve never been to Australia, even though Mike’s brother has lived there for over 30 years. Three kids and a mother-in-law in England meant we’ve always gone east rather than west.
Planning the trip has been a good thing to focus on. I’ve been studying Japanese in preparation and I’m excited to return to the land where we began…and meet up with people we haven’t seen for 35 years! It’s fitting that we are arriving in September, too, hearkening back to my first trip overseas 39 years ago. My arrival in Japan was pretty difficult (another story), but full of wonder too!
In addition to bidding farewell to my parents and Chris, we had to say goodbye to poor Romie, who’s had a ton of adjustment for an old dog! She usually sleeps with Nick, and she hasn’t recovered from his departure…and now this! I hope she’s not too sad while we’re gone.
And we’re off!
Similar to our 3-month journey around SE Asia after leaving Japan, we’re traveling with carry-ons only. I planned so well what I would take—and what I needed to buy for the journey—that I somehow forgot my credit cards. Good thing I have Apple Pay and Mike brought two cards!
The other minor hiccup that could have been huge is that no one told us we needed visas to get into Australia! Our friend Tim mentioned it on Saturday. I guess that’s the downside of booking one’s own travel!! We haven’t had to get visas since we went to India in 1989. Fortunately we were able to do it online, but mine was approved immediately while they kept Mike on pins and needles for several hours. It reminded us of our visas for India, when Mike the Brit had to pay three times what I did. Justice against the colonizers, I’m thinking?
Letting Mike’s imagination run wild, it seemed like I was the only one who was going to be let in down under! 😂 I’m sure we’ll have more hiccups but I’m hoping to just relax and have fun no matter what happens.
I’m excited to return to the Land of the Rising Sun! Bucket list empty nester trip, BRING IT!
Every Day Is a Miracle 