The sounds of today

are eerily familiar.  It is Friday afternoon and I hear the sounds of young mens' large feet running up and down the stairs.  No, I am not insane. Well, at least not about that.  Thanksgiving break: Mikey's home and he's been in and out of the house, usually with friends in tow.  Could I BE any happier??  The only thing that would make me happier is for Sarah to be here too.  She might come by later if she gets off work early.  I can hope.  ;)

For now, it is Mikey and his friends.  There are familiar sounds: feet hitting the stairs, bumping noises, (don't want to know...) and the muffled laughter of deep, male voices.  These familiar sounds are reminiscent of Friday afternoons when Mikey was a senior at Challenge.  Fridays at Challenge are half days; those days it was not unusual for Mikey and his friends to land here, after lunch.

My children's voices are what's made this house a home.  This house could be filled with the finest of furniture and collectibles, but it's the chatter, the whistling, the laughter and yes, even the bickering from my children, that's made it a home.

Although I've adjusted (even embraced) Sarah's moving out and Mikey going off to college, I love them, and love having them around.  Eating meals together, watching reruns on demand, surfing the internet in the same room, (we have god-awful internet btw), and doing so much talking and laughing.  Isn't that wonderful?  It makes me happy.   What makes me happier, is that although Sarah and Mikey are grown, the four of us continue to enjoy each other's company and in fact look forward to spending time together.

Come Sunday evening, it will be me and Don together again, in our empty nest.  Not for long though; the Christmas break is around the corner.  Sounds like an excuse to make a paper chain!

Sarah & Mikey - June, 2001 - Uncle Buck's house