SAYING GOODBYE IS HARD

I live back in the woods on 5 acres of land and spend a lot of time alone, which is usually okay with me.  However, being family oriented and loving my family as I do, I find myself missing them often.  We are scattered in different states, except for my son who lives close by, so I do not get to see most of my family as often as I would like. 

Well, this past week was different. My granddaughter and great-granddaughter came to spend a week with me.  My granddaughter is 48 and my great-granddaughter is 17. In my eyes, they are not just my grandchildren. I see them as extraordinary beings. I see their sweetness and kindness and their willingness and desire to participate in life.  I listen to them talk of their hopes and dreams for themselves and the world. I feel the love they have for me oozing from their pores. We have a relationship with each other which is what makes our visits so special. 

I was so excited on Tuesday afternoon to go to the airport in Richmond to pick them up. I even got there an hour early so I sat in the baggage claim area so I could see them when they came down the escalator.  We saw each other at the same time.  I ran towards them and they ran down the escalator steps so we could throw ourselves into a nice big group hug. 

From then on we pretty much stayed together and played together.  

We went to VCU in Richmond for a campus tour, went out to eat almost every night,  sat around the kitchen table and talked, went to the theatre and to the movies, shopped a little, had a cookout with my son and daughter in law and some of her family and played board games and Uno till 2:30 AM on Saturday and Sunday. 

Yesterday afternoon I had to take the girls to the airport and my heart was so full of sadness. I really hated to see them leave because having them here was like having a breath of fresh air in my house.  

It was so hard to say goodbye.

It was so hard watching them walk into the terminal with their suitcases, knowing they were going home to New Orleans and I was going  home to a house that would be void of their presence. 

I  really miss those girls, My heart feels empty today.

 I am grateful for the time we got to spend together, and I wish I could keep them here forever.

Saying goodbye is hard!!