Migrating Parents

Tonight I am staring yet another long weekend in the eye - with mixed emotions. It's migration time for my snowbird Dad and his wife; they leave for their Florida home tomorrow. That means I'll beep at a dark empty house as I speed by on my way to work. There will be no afterwork impromptu drop in visits and no hugs for the next two months. Debating the upcoming municipal elections with my Pops long distance will have to do.

It's the classic "you don't know what you have til it's gone" syndrome; only I know what I have and I miss it when it's gone. At my age I realize what a blessing it is to still have at least one parent alive and thriving. And as he so often reminds me, our relationship extends past that of father-daughter and has become one of close, dear friends. No mandated, obligatory relationship here ...

So we had our "last supper" of sacred meatloaf and communal wine tonight and said our farewells. Pops and I do the good bye dance really well -- NOT! We embraced tightly (but briefly) and kept it light. I hugged the ladies and we all agreed that time will fly and that they will be home before we know it.

Let's hope so. Travel safe my dear snowbirds.