That's all, friends

All there needs to be

A little over a year ago, my people and I met up in Australia, to spend time in the new home of the youngest among us. There and back, we logged a grand total of more than 20,000 miles and 38 hours in the air. We’d do it again, no question, because the rewards far outweighed the sacrifices. Still, it was a beast of a journey.

This year, this past week, and wrapping up today (I am putting the finishing touches on this post as my guy drives us to the Albuquerque Sunport), we instead converged in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the place the older offspring calls home. The wedding of a special family friend was the impetus, and it was a beautiful occasion. We allowed ourselves extra time on either side of the nuptials to soak up as much of each other as we could.

It’s a long time between visits these days, and I’m not going to soften the edges by pretending that there aren’t still a few wrinkles in the fabric of our togetherness, nor that the farewells don’t bring me to tears, every time. It’s like snipping away the parts of myself that have just blossomed anew, and leaving them, still damp with the dew of reconnection, behind.

But, how can I not, simultaneously, be overwhelmed with gratitude at being able to be together at all, at wanting to be together at all? It is our greatest privilege, the most excellent of wishes come true.

That’s all there is this week, friends. That’s all there needs to be.

~Elizabeth