Empty nest

So. This is what it’s gonna be like! If my wife Heidi and I are lucky enough to make it to retirement (or something resembling that) in many, many years, THIS might be a slight glimpse into the future. What’s this? An empty nest! An eerie quiet has descended upon our humble Hyde Park homestead. Oh, there’s still noise in these parts: The rumbling barks of three easily agitated dogs (they are a conveniently free home security system, and they show off their falsely dangerous barking alarms when the Amazon truck or oil delivery guy or mail truck or any sort of movement in the yard occurs!) and the constant whirring of the three pumps futilely trying to keep our basement dry (if we get more rain this week, I will strongly dislike). But other than that? Not a lot of human activity here. Our three kids are out of the house. At least for a few days. Joey is in full-grown adult mode, out in the suburbs of Pittsburgh in the Air Force; Natalie continues her sophomore year at Siena College; and James, our constant presence since birth? He’s down in Myrtle Beach for the week with his FDR High School baseball team for their every-other-year spring trip, the first one in a while (obviously). So? It’s just the two of us. It’s weirdly nice. Should we feel guilty about this? I can only speak for myself when I say … NO. We love our kids, and this is nice at the same time. We cherish the rare moments when they are all home, and this is nice at the same time. We are proud of all that they have done, that they are doing and that they hopefully will continue to do, and this is nice at the same time.

Thoughts of retirement creep into the brain a bit more these days – I mean, I turn 58 later this year, so while that’s understandable, it’s likely still a murky vision in the distant future – and a quiet house is a strong possibility at that time. And oh yeah: This is NOT what retirement is like because we’re both still, uh, WORKING -- a lot, these days, by the way (this is a good thing!). But here at home, the pantry shelves are staying stocked a little longer. There is far less garbage to throw out and far less laundry piling up in the hallways and bathrooms. There are no construction- or baseball-themed YouTube videos (James’ favorites) playing on the big screen downstairs in the living room. There’s less competition for hot water at morning shower time. The dogs are still eating and barking and sleeping. I’m still swilling my coffee. Heidi’s still scanning antiques online and on social media. All’s quiet and tranquil here at the dead-end swamp. Did I mention? This empty nest thing is not so bad at all. I should also mention? It’s short-lived: Natalie comes home for an extended Easter break on Wednesday night. For now, for the next two days when we’re home, we’ll soak in the sounds of silence.