PATTERNS

THE PATTERNS OF OUR WORLD HAVE CHANGED.

WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST?  PERHAPS THE MOST OBVIOUS ANSWER IS YOUR JOB THAT PROVIDED FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

PERHAPS YOU MISS THE FREEDOM TO TAKE YOUR CLASSES BUT NOW YOUR CHILDREN ARE WITH YOU 24/7.    

MAYBE YOU MISS YOUR WEEKLY PATTERNS OF GOING OUT TO BREAKFAST WITH YOUR PARTNER OR OUT TO A RESTAURANT /OR CHURCH SERVICE ON THE WEEKEND.

I AM MISSING MY YEARLY PATTERN . EVERY YEAR IN MAY FOR THE LAST 31 YEARS I HAVE FLOWN HOME TO BE NEAR MY PARENTS, MY DEAREST FIRST FRIENDS,  AND MY WINDSOR, ONTARIO FAMILY.  AT FIRST I ONLY STAYED FOR A LONG WEEKEND BECAUSE I MISSED THEM ALL SO MUCH WHEN I MOVED SEVERAL PROVINCES AWAY AS A NEWLYWED. 

AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS IT BECAME ONE WHOLE WEEK AND AS MY FOUR CHILDREN GOT OLDER MY PATTERN BECAME TWO WEEKS.

FOR THE LAST MANY YEARS I HAVE RETURNED HOME FOR LONGER THAN A MONTH !  THIS IS PERFECT FOR ME BECAUSE I WANT TO BE NEAR MY AGING PARENTS ( WE ENJOY ANTIQUING, PAINTING, GOING FOR DRIVES…)  AND THE WEATHER IS ALMOST TROPICAL IN OUR SOUTHERN MOST CITY OF CANADA. 

THE “GIRLS’ WEEKEND AWAY” IS A HUGE DRAW FOR ME AS MY SISTERS AND I (AND EVEN OUR MUM FOR YEARS) GO FOR A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY AT A BED AND BREAKFAST WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE. WE LAUGH AND TALK INTO THE WEE HOURS FOR 3 1/2 DAYS AND WE TOO HAVE OUR PATTERNS OF WHAT OUR PLANS ARE EVERY YEAR. THERE IS ALWAYS TEA INVOLVED , USUALLY MUSIC, SOMETIMES ART, AND A MOVIE FOR SURE. 

I HAVE THE INCREDIBLE GOOD BLESSING OF HAVING TWO OF THESE TYPE OF WEEKENDS AWAY WHILE I AM HOME.  MY BEST FRIENDS AND I STARTED GOING AWAY TOGETHER TOO AND ALL FOUR OF US LIVE IN DIFFERENT CITIES! (EDMONTON,WATERLOO,TECUMSEH, AND CALGARY) .WE LIKE TO DO THE SAME THINGS AS MY SISTERS BUT WE ALSO PRAY TOGETHER AND USUALLY SEE A THEATRE PRODUCTION (OR TWO!) AS WELL. 

EVEN MY BEST HIGH SCHOOL GIRLFRIENDS AND MYSELF GET TOGETHER WHEN I’M BACK IN ONTARIO. 

AND AS MAY DRAWS CLOSER AND I SEE THAT THESE PATTERNS WILL NOT BE RETRACED I AM STARTING TO FEEL SAD.  THEY ARE SUCH A DEEP , SATISFYING, AND UPLIFTING PART OF MY LIFE.

HOW AM I GOING TO STAY HERE AND HAPPY WHEN MY BODY IS SAYING, “TIME TO FLY BACK TO YOUR FIRST HOME” ?  THIS IS WHAT I WILL MISS MOST THIS YEAR .

BUT I HOPE AND DREAM OF FLYING HOME NEXT MAY.  RIGHT NOW I CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE FEELING COMFORTABLE GETTING ON AN AIRPLANE!  

PERHAPS I CAN ADOPT A NEW PATTERN WHERE I SEE HOPE CHANGING MY CRIES INTO TEARS OF JOY AND THE BEATING OF MY HEART INTO THE PATH FORWARD INTO OUR NEW WORLD.