Family Visits

We got to have dinner and some catch-up time with Geoff's brother and sister-in-law and the kids tonight.  We really have to do this more often.  Somehow.  I had to wonder tonight if we were beginning to show our age.  They're camping a few towns away and I asked how late they'd been staying up.  I haven't been camping at all since Hunter was born.  I remember it being this amazingly lazy time when you'd sit around the fire and enjoy the quiet.  How late had they been staying up?  "Until about 10."  Not quite like I remembered.

They're also not just camping either.  Their son is taking part in a baseball camp so they've been up early each morning for that.  Geoff's also working during the week, so it's not like we could have made a night of it either.  I love seeing family, I just wish it could be for longer, more relaxed periods of time.  My sister-in-law and I were talking about medical procedures as well.  My fault of course, because I brought it up yesterday, but it sure felt like we were getting old.

I told her that I think we're supposed to get our second wind when the youngest turns 16.  That's my plan anyway.  I have a few years to wait on her because her youngest is five years older than Hunter.  I imagine we'll get together before then - I hope.  We're all busy with the kids.  But it will give us something to talk about when we get that second wind. 

And we're not so old really - compared to what I used to think "old" was.  I love how the perspective changes through the years.  I felt much older at 23 than I do now.  Maybe it's because at 23, I stopped playing and now I play all the time because that's what the kids do.  So maybe it's less of a second wind and more like a second shot at your twenties.  As parents we have already gone through our own childhood and teen years and that was tough enough.  Then we get to do it again;  maybe again and again... and again.  So by the time that's done, we get to have our own place again and it's like the first time, only better. 

This time will be better because we'll own, or almost own that place.  We won't be broke ass kids, we'll be responsible, mature adults who saved money all those years ago and now spend it with reckless abandon. LOL.  Sort of.  It's a pretty nice thought though.  That's how I'm going to think of it - my second twenties.  Maybe we become a little more free after the kids are all grown up.  Maybe this getting older thing is going to be really cool. 

I know I'm looking forward to the day when I can have my own house.  No offense kids - I love you, I do, and I enjoy every day with you but sometimes I kind of look forward to the day when I will be mature enough to have my own place again.  And you will have yours.  And you'll invite us over for dinner and do the dishes.  Yep, it's going to be pretty darned cool.