September 10, 2008
Older Son has returned to Japan for his second semester. I have to say that I began mourning his leaving before he left.
Oh, we're extremely proud of him, proud of all our kids, but we like to be proud of them when they're under our feet. Across the world....not so much.
Knowing that I was going to miss him, he sent me a dozen roses. I sobbed like a baby. But I have to say that having those flowers right here next to me somehow make me feel better. They're a symbol of love and thoughtfulness.
But as he hugged me goodbye, he whispered "I'm going to miss you, Mom." That broke my heart. But Daughter anticipated the pain and had spent the night to be with me.
I look around at people who don't have kids who want to visit, or whose kids do things so stupid, so thoughtless, that they are horrified. I have one friend whose daughter is in her late forties and had a staph infection. She got a boil and it was lanced and she went and got in a swimming pool with people. Exposing all of them. My friend was stunned and horrified.
Of course, we're germaphobic here because of my weakened immune system. But that was a no brainer.
We had a little girl die of MRSA here last week. One day she was okay, just had a bruised hip, and then she was gone. I don't know how her parents are bearing the pain.
Japan suddenly doesn't seem so bad.