Changing Seasons

Autumn turns to winter. Winter turns to spring. And on and on. So it is with life.

Wednesday afternoon, I felt like a guest in my own kitchen as I watched Autumn bake rolls and pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving. She cut up celery and onion for her stuffing and cleaned up the kitchen. I did prepare supper that night, but it wasn't the same.


Thanksgiving morning, she set to work preparing her stuffing, and getting the turkey in the oven. I still had a hand in the meal as I made mashed potatoes, gravy, pear salad, another stuffing recipe, and Merry Berry Cheese Bars. But it wasn't the same.

Autumn asked if she could do the rolls, pies, stuffing, and turkey because next year she'll be a married woman. I was happy to allow her this time of practice, and she did a wonderful job. But, it's hitting me hard. This time next year, she'll be a married woman.


She'll no longer be here to help me if I need her. She'll no longer be singing in the kitchen as she works. I'll no longer hear Yo- Yo Ma on the CD player as she does dishes. I'll no longer go to her door in the morning and sit on the edge of her bed talking and laughing as Daisy kisses her face to wake her.


And then, there's Mac. He worked with me in the kitchen yesterday morning as I prepared the second stuffing recipe. He cracked jokes while I worked, and stirred the celery and onion as it cooked on the stove. He thanked me for being a good cook because, "I'm sure that millions of people are eating Stove Top stuffing all across America today." He helped me with the dishes, and whistled and sang the entire time. And then, he got his guitar and sat in the kitchen chair while I wiped the table and such.

This morning as I perused a few blogs, he sat beside and asked, "Do you have a Blissfully Domestic button on your sidebar?"

"No. I'm not blissfully domestic."

"Mom! Yes you are!"

"Oh, I guess I am!"

"I'll take your picture pouring orange marmalade into jars, and we'll make you a button!"

"Um...no thanks."

"C'mon, Mom. It'll be fun!"


He graduates this year and will head off to college in the fall. Sure, he'll be back for Thanksgiving. I'm fairly certain he won't miss a home-cooked holiday meal. He may even be back on random weekends, as I don't think he'll be more than 3 hours from home, but it's the everyday banter that I'll miss. Mac is quick-witted, and he and I have personalities that do very well together. Admittedly, I'm tough on him, but he knows it's because I'm spurring him to be the best he can be. He's funny, and charming, and helpful.

I did well yesterday. Until late in the evening. I looked around the living room, and my emotions took over. As Jon left, I hugged him and told him that I was glad he was here with us. And I meant it with all of my heart. I like counting us as a family of 8 rather than 7. And then he left, and I realized that next year, if he's here for Thanksgiving, Autumn will be leaving with him, too. And then Mac will head back to school. And our family of 8 will be a family of 5, and nothing will ever be the same again.