I have been alone since February 24 and will be alone until late on March 3 or mid-day on March 4th. For those of you who live alone regularly, this is like writing that you have eaten a breakfast in the morning. For those of you newly alone on a permanent basis it is, perhaps, like a reminder of a bad dream that you thought you had woken from. For everyone else it is just reading someone's blog.
My husband, whom I love more than I show him and not as much as he deserves, has taken off on a wilderness voyage with two men older than he into the depths of the Everglades for several days by canoe. This is in reality a dangerous trip, but I have heard today that he is safe, and since he is the best canoe guide I ever knew, I am relieved. They are all seniors...he is mid-60's and one is mid-70's and the last has just turned 80. What possesses men to insist they can recreate their youth is something we all understand. But those of us married to them feel more like parents rather than spouses.
I have enjoyed the quiet mornings when I can lay in bed and read with the second and third cup of coffee. I have enjoyed the quiet of my house with only my sighs to mingle with the wind and unscheduled grazing and meals that seem to fall together rather easily. But I am ready for his energy and crazy ideas and desire to make the day last long after sunset. I am ready for him to return.
My husband, whom I love more than I show him and not as much as he deserves, has taken off on a wilderness voyage with two men older than he into the depths of the Everglades for several days by canoe. This is in reality a dangerous trip, but I have heard today that he is safe, and since he is the best canoe guide I ever knew, I am relieved. They are all seniors...he is mid-60's and one is mid-70's and the last has just turned 80. What possesses men to insist they can recreate their youth is something we all understand. But those of us married to them feel more like parents rather than spouses.
I have enjoyed the quiet mornings when I can lay in bed and read with the second and third cup of coffee. I have enjoyed the quiet of my house with only my sighs to mingle with the wind and unscheduled grazing and meals that seem to fall together rather easily. But I am ready for his energy and crazy ideas and desire to make the day last long after sunset. I am ready for him to return.
What a nice post. I hope you let him read it. My husband will turn 80 in June. The other day I told him I loved him and he teasingly responded that I should because he does so many things for me. I said "Do you know what I'd do if I lost you? Cry, cry, and then cry some more so don't go away.
ReplyDeleteI love that you appreciate that the the peace and solitude are sweetened by the notion that you are an intersting woman married to an interesting man and that he will return to you soon.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really cute post and one I can definitely identify with. :) My husband just left this a.m. and will be back on Sun p.m. I treasure the time alone, always cheerfully see him off LOL, to do just what you stated in your blog ;), and I'm always happy to greet him when he returns.
ReplyDeleteI can really relate to what you say here. I look forward to the alone-time when John goes on trips, but I am always glad to have him back. Suddenly the place feels alive again.
ReplyDeleteThe Everglades! And your hubby is the young one. I hope he takes some photos.
I didn't get married until I was 36, so I had lots of alone time. I didn't fully appreciate it then. Now, with a husband and 3 kids, I wish for just 1 week alone, 24-7. LOL
ReplyDeleteHowever, like you, I'd be eagerly awaiting their return.
I hope your husband comes back refreshed and invigorated and that you'll be ready for him. :)
I do not sleep well with out G. I can't get up, I can't operate in the mornings....Oh, I am a miserable example of a human until I go to bed when I cannot sleep well..... :)
ReplyDeleteThe perfect home for your photograph is right in front of the front door. There's no light on the piece, so the emulsion won't have a chance to fade, and every time you go anywhere, you smile as you walk by it. Thank you.
I enjoy time alone and I don't get that any more. I love my husband, but I long for some time to myself.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you found out your man is safe.
I'm sure they're doing it because they can! Adventure is good! But with gators n snakes, not so much-
ReplyDeleteI drove thru the Glades on the Tamiami trail in the Seminol reservation back in '91. Even in Little Truck, it seemed dangerous! No cell phone signals- there were "Beware of panther" signs, I saw huge Golden Eages n Turkey vultures by the road side, n Gators were numerous.
I'm sure the experienced "Experts" know what they're doing- N will be back to cushy living soon.
I've been alone so long I now prefer it-
I have a sister who just turned 68. She wants her retired husband to get off the couch and go somewhere ... anywhere without her.
ReplyDeleteI have a sister who just turned 68. She wants her retired husband to get off the couch and go somewhere ... anywhere without her.
ReplyDeleteAnd are they camping in the wilderness at night? This strikes me as quite the adventure. I have always savored a little alone time. In our retirement, we have so many different interests that we end up giving each other great amounts of space. It's always nice to take a walk together or sit down for a glass of wine in the evening, though.
ReplyDeleteWe parallel here. I love to be alone and get it often but sometimes it can be 'enough already!'
ReplyDeleteFor dakini, all I can think of is dancing girls in bakinis and that's not so far off!
My husband used to take a horse trip in Utah every year with his best friend. They would drive out and back with the horse campout inbetween. I always enjoyed the break as I was working a very stressful job...but it was fun to have him back home and hear all the stories.....Now we are together 24/7 and the stories have been repeated way too many times. LOL
ReplyDeleteI love living alone but I know what you mean about the missing energy. It's what I missed most when I first became alone - and it's the space my visiting children and grandchildren help fill when they are here.
ReplyDeleteI love living alone but I know what you mean about the missing energy. It's what I missed most when I first became alone - and it's the space my visiting children and grandchildren help fill when they are here.
ReplyDeleteit's kind of nice to miss someone now and then, makes it more delicious when they return
ReplyDeleteI have never lived alone and I must admit I'd like to
Tabor, thank you for sharing. Wish we lived close - but I am such a loner I would just sit and look at nature with you and might have a cup of tea :) Your encouragment when you comment to me - means much.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you as you enjoy the last few days alone and how exciting it will be to have that special husband return.
Moments alone are nice but I will always remember the first time Ron left on a fishing trip after we married. I was alone in our Kansas house for the first time. I was alone in the country for the first time. I believe I sat in one spot the entire time he was gone. Okay, I did get up to use the bathroom.
ReplyDeleteWell, you know the reasons, of course. We need to keep pretending we're younger than we are. Once we accept that we are at an age where we cannot do boyish things, we die. Sad, but true.
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