Happy Silence.

I don't have a good excuse for not blogging much lately. It certainly isn't for lack of things to write about, as we've been happily, busily jumping from activity to activity since we've been back from our trip. Brownie events, school science fair, school carnival, International Night, birthday parties, Easter egg hunts...we've done it all. It isn't for a lack of time to write - work has been fairly quiet lately, and there were many times I thought about blogging, but the thought was just quickly replaced by something else.

I think the biggest reason for my silence is that I tend to write as a way to process things - either things I am thinking about in advance, or debriefing on post-mortem. And lately, I've just had one recurring thought, and it wouldn't be terribly interesting to simply write, "life it good."

But, there you have it. Life is good! My life--make that OUR life--is good. It is certainly far from perfect - there is the nagging sinus/allergy problem that will likely plague me for life, and the bills to pay that always seem to slightly outnumber the the money coming in, as well as the usual trials and tribulations of married life, of parenthood. There are bigger imperfections, too. My aunt, who is getting progressively more sick and less alive and I'm guessing who won't be with us much longer. Other friends and family members who are facing big and heartbreaking issues that I wish I could fix...and yet...in spite of it all, I just have this overwhelming sense of contentedness. This is the life I never knew I wanted, if that makes sense.

My mother often comments on how busy we are, how much running around I do, and how am I not exhausted? Truthfully, sometimes I am exhausted - this winter definitely helped me realize that I can't do it all. Even so, I love the busy pace of our life. I love carting the carpool kids around, socializing with the other moms at the various committee meetings and school events. I love our increasingly busy social life - as our circle widens and there are new friends to make. I love being involved at the girls' schools and knowing that in some small way, I am making a difference in their experiences there.

Everyone who has lived through it and come out the other side talks about how fleeting it is to parent children. And, of course, the part of that statement that refers to the actual biological ages of kids has always been obvious. But I'm starting to understand the other part of it, too...that one day, when the girls are grown, I'll have lots of time to myself. I had always assumed that this was a good thing; something to look forward to. And, in a sense, I'm sure it is, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it for what it is. But I also think that I will miss these days when the only time that is absolutely my own is the time spent either in the shower, on the elliptical, or in the 10 minutes between getting into bed and falling asleep.

In any event, if I haven't been writing, it is simply a happy silence.

The Ocean

Yesterday, I took a long walk on the boardwalk in Long Branch, which is something I haven't done since the spring. I had forgotten how much I like that walk. Pier Village is so bustling with activity and the ocean is, well...it's the ocean. I've seen a lot of natural wonders, from snow-capped mountains to cascading waterfalls, from lava beds to canyons, and still, nothing inspires, awes, and calms me more than the ocean.

I know I am not alone in that feeling, either, judging by how many other people were on the boardwalk yesterday, just breathing it all in. It's the reason Wilmington NC real estate will command a higher price than say, Akron OH or Des Moines, IA. Yeah, yeah, I know houses in some mountain locales (Aspen, Park City) command even more money than the coasts, but let's face it...that's more about having a certain zip code next to your name than anything else.

Anyway, I guess the point of this post is just to blaaaaahg yet again about how grateful I am to live where I do.