Away

At some point early in the evening yesterday, Caleb emerged from hours of studying. Malan lay on her bed crying, Jane lay on the floor crying. I thought I might join them.


Instead, I informed Caleb I was going away for a while, whereupon I shut myself in my room, shut off the lights, hid in my blankets, and watched the sun going down out my bedroom window.


Caleb knocked softly and asked, "You okay, Babe?"


I said, "I'm away!"


While I pondered momly things I heard the crying stop, the cooking of dinner begin, and rounds of "Do as I'm doing" being shouted by Jane in the kitchen.


After a while I heard Jane coming up the stairs.

And Caleb saying "Nope, Janey, come down. Mom's away for a while."

Then Jane saying "I want my Mama."


So I sheepishly got up to let her in, and found this waiting:

Red pepper chicken and bacon salad with peas, corn, cheddar, sunflower seeds, garlic croûtons, and buttermilk ranch. Yum.


I ate in bed.

Caleb brought his up to join me.

And Jane ate off my plate while sticking pennies from her penny can to my forehead and giggling her face off.


Then I went in to see Malan who had fallen asleep hiding under her blankets. We must be related.

We snuggled, and it was sweet.


Like my life.


Nothing like a little melt down to boost your spirits.

Nothing like my good man and my sweet girls.

*pine 1. to yearn deeply; suffer with longing; long painfully 2. to fail gradually in health or vitality from grief, regret, or longing (often fol. by away): separated by their families, the lovers pined away.