Count down is on:

Two things that scare me:

#1 - Taxes

#2 - Haircuts

This week, I've received a ton of tax related documents....makes me get all sweaty palmed, and nervous.  I hate tax time!  Thank God I have a wonderful Tax lady who takes good care of me!!  

<3 her!

Thursday I am getting all my hair cut off!  Right now, it's longer than my bra strap in the back....so it's going to be a big big change!

My stomach is all full of butterflies about it.  50% excited and 50% scared!

This is the hair cut:

What do you think?

Can I pull it off?

It's been a long time since this girl had short hair....but so far in 2017 I've made some changes to better myself and the hair cut is just going along with those changes.  On my lunch hour, I've been swimming at the YMCA and it's THE MOST therapeutic thing I can do for myself.  The water is so restorative, and the smell of the chlorine fills my lungs and it's like medicine for my soul.

I've always felt that water, being around it, being in it, or just listening to it run and babble is necessary and absolutely needed....just like we need air to breathe, I need water to be.  Just to be.  So with that being said, I don't want anything holding me back from being in that pool as much as earthly possible.  So, the hair has got to go!  I'm going to be "Sporty Heather" in 2017, even if it kills me!

They say that you can't make drastic changes to one's life and expect them to stick, so I'm starting out slow, and making some slight modifications...started with the swimming.  Then I replaced my broken fitbit.  Followed that by starting to log my foods on MyFitnessPal again.  I've been trying to drink a lot of water.  I'm eating while being mindful of eating more WHOLE foods and less processed.  Naturally I am trying to reduce any and all fried foods and limited my pizza consumption.....those two are hard ones, but when nothing is OFF limits, you really can't FAIL and feel like you wrecked your diet, because you're not on a diet.  You're just trying to make better choices.

What this has to do with impending doom, or the two things that scare me I have no idea....

I ramble sometimes...please forgive me.

Maybe I should have said there are 5 things that scare me:

1. Taxes

2. Haircuts

3. Diet

4. Cardio

5. Mice/Rats - PETRIFIED of these disgusting creatures!  Don't even get me started on their beady eyes and twitchy demeanor!  *getting squirmy thinking about it*

That might have been a more accurate list!

Does anyone else's faces get like beet red when they work out?  Like embarrassingly so?  And don't even get me started on what it's like trying to run when you have ginormous boobs!  Let's just say, you girls out there with A'cups don't know how good you have it!

maybe 2018 will be the year of the breast reduction!  Don't tell my husband though, he's a boob guy, he'll cry if he finds this out! 

*laughs*

So there you have it the top 5 things that scare me!

Not in any particular order.

For those of you who are curious here's the rest of the list:

6. drowning

7. House burning down

8. My husband/mom/sisters/kid/or dog dying

9. Politics

10. Fanatics

Count down to hair cut is on....

*HeatherLynn*

Heather the Explorer

So in case you haven't heard, I recently resigned from my job as a Real Estate Agent.  It was time.

One of the reasons I quit was so I could do some traveling this summer and go have some fun in the RV my hubs and I bought ourselves for our wedding present to each other.  

Our first trip I THINK is going to be White Water Rafting in West Virginia.  Have any of you ever been?

I'm so excited I can't stand it!  Winter has that effect on me, being cooped up inside leaves you DYING to get outside!  The idea of being in short sleeves, on a river, and the possibility of there being sunshine....well to a winter sufferer like myself, it's just such a wonderful day dream to have.  All the vitamin D, antidepressants and alcohol in the world isn't enough sometimes to get you through WINTER.  The older I get, I think the worse it gets.  The longer winter seems to drag on, even though I'm sure it's not any longer or colder than it's been here the past 38 winters.  Funny how much our perspective changes with each passing year that goes by.  I think this year especially has been dismal because of all the negativity that is surrounding us.  All the political talk, all the hate/anger, all the pointing of fingers and blame being passed around.  So instead of allowing that to get at me, I'm going to daydream about a river, and a boat, and sunshine, and the idea that it won't be long and I'll be on that river, flying through rapids, waking up alongside my love, in an RV, in another state.

I intend on bringing my laptop on our travels this summer, and I hope to find creativity and enhance my imagination and do a little writing while out and about in the the world and on the road.

perhaps drink a little coffee, while sitting at THIS table:

can you picture the steam coming up from my coffee cup on another awesome summer morning.  I'll be wearing my flannel Chicago bears PJ pants and one of my husbands old T-shirts.

My laptop will be humming....

words furiously being typed onto the screen....

The world will be quiet except for some birds chirping announcing the morning has arrived.

The smell of smoldering campfires still hanging in the air.

ahhhhhhhhh....doesn't that just sound like heaven?

I cannot WAIT to go!

Anyone want to recommend some places for us to put on our calendar this summer?

Oh, how I'm dreaming of summer....

*HeatherLynn*

You know what's cool?

Do you want to know what my favorite part of my new fitbit is?

It's being able to see that a new 5-star review on amazon makes me go from a heart rate of 76 to 86!  How's that for science making life more track-able?!?!

Woot Woot!

If I get a bunch of new reviews, it would almost be like working out just reading them and getting all heart-flutter-ey!  

Beats the treadmill!

I do so love my readers!

Thanks for always being my bright spot in a dark world, each and every one of you!

Luv,

*HeatherLynn*

For Richer or Poorer

I heard a statistic yesterday that has floored me.  In a survey of married people, when asked if they won the lottery, would they divorce their spouse and 25% said YES!  

TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT!  

That seems high doesn't it?

If I wont the lottery, the first person I would tell is my husband.  If I won the lottery, the first person I would spoil is my husband!  If I won the lottery, I would travel the world WITH MY HUSBAND.

Sure, he and I have only been married a little over a year, but we've been together for like 8 or 9 or something like that now....and he's my best friend.  I love that guy so much "love" doesn't seem like a big enough word to describe it.  It's too common, and what I feel for him seems rare and precious in my opinion.

If you won the lottery, would your first order of business be a divorce?  If not, what would you do first?

First thing I would do....if it was enough money....I'd call my hubs, and be like, baby, quit your job, we're going on an adventure...a long one!

Can you imagine that call?!  I mean, what a gift to be able to be the person to GIVE someone else freedom to quit their job, and to have the adventure of a lifetime....and all because you spent a dollar on something silly and with impossible odds.

If I close my eyes, I can almost hear the quivering in my voice as I began to speak...the pounding in my chest....the kind of excitement that you just cannot contain!

What I wouldn't give to be able to make that call someday....

Ah, to dream of such things....

Good things come to those who wait they say

I'll keep waiting for my day

for my "lucky day"

Husband....just know that this wife, is NOT part of the 25%

This wife is 100% all in with you.

for richer or poorer

I'm your girl.

xoxoxo

*HeatherLynn*

On a side note:  My watch, out of nowhere, went from regular time, to military time!  it's really messing with me.

Really wishing I hadn't thrown out my instruction manual.

*Real People Problems*

Buying a cheap watch on Amazon....

that magically converts itself to military time.

and people wonder why I dream of winning the lottery.  Maybe then I could buy a watch that didn't look like THIS:

Oh, and the date's wrong too!  WTF.  Great!  I didn't even notice that before.

Spoiled Rotten

Ok, so you guys know like 2 weeks ago I bought a new car....remember that?!

And my old vehicle, the Mercury Mariner that I had, I loved, but it was just time to put the ole girl out to pasture.  So when I was shopping for a new vehicle, I noticed my inability to give up having leather heated seats.  I didn't even WANT leather heated seats when I bought my Mariner, never had them before, didn't think it affected my life all that much, but once I got them, and I pushed that little button in the winter and my ass suddenly got toasty warm, I found myself suddenly petrified of ever owning a car that did not have such luxuries.

** SPOILED**

Patience

I love those Dateline Saturday Night mysteries!  You watch those things?  Has that one white haired guy with the voice that makes you stay tuned:

So I hate to admit this, but I'm SO SPOILED that I cannot wait to find out "who did it"....can you believe that as soon as I find out who was killed, maybe like 10 minutes into the show when they start talking to suspects, I google "Who killed _________" and I find out, so I can watch the rest of the show looking for clues as to IF they slip up and say something to point towards one suspect or another.  I mean who does that?!  The point of the show is to find out who done it, not find out who done it and then watch the show to see how they PRESENT who done it!

I'm pretty sure the internet ruined me.  I also purposely go online to read spoilers on my favorite shows...and it doesn't even bother me knowing, and I still totally watch and sit on the edge of my seat even when I know what's about to happen....

*SPOILED*

At work, we have an elevator.  Makes hauling heavy files and whatnot up to the second floor pretty nifty!  I remember when I first started working here, I thought to myself, "FANCY!"  I ride an elevator up to work!  Well recently, they made the front door an automatic sliding door...and I'm even more impressed with how awesome it is to like NOT have to open a door.  The door just sees me and is like, viola!  Welcome Heather as it opens up without me having to do a thing!  {It doesn't really talk to me or know my name, but in my imagination it does...and this is my story, so I'll tell it how I see it!}  Well, ever since we got those sliding doors, I find myself walking right up to OTHER doors and feeling completely annoyed when they don't open up for me.  And my spoiled self says to myself "Are you kidding me?!  You want me to actually OPEN the door myself?!?!"  Two times in the last week I nearly ran into a door doing this!  I mean, what the hell Heather!  Get it together!

**SPOILED**

Keyless entry.

Ever try to click open your door to your home with your car remote?

I'm not even going to tell you how many times I have!

NOW, my car talks to me!  Literally, I'm not even messing around.  It's a girl, and she says things like "PLEASE SAY A COMMAND"....and I'm like..."Whoa"  my car just spoke to me, like LITERALLY spoke!  And I tell it to "CALL JERIMY"....and it says "CALLING TERRI" and I scamble to turn the danged thing off before I call TERRI!

I say, "CALL Aaron"...and it says "CALLING ERIC"....

Yeah, I'm thinking my car has a hearing problem....she's the worst administrative assistant I've ever had!  So maybe I won't get spoiled there....but you see how a girl could get spoiled right?

All the technology is great you know....I mean, I love it on so many levels....I'm amazed at the things we're now able to do with the touch of a button, or with a voice command.....but I can't help but to think of the words of Miranda Lambert.....

Quarter in a payphone
Drying laundry on the line
Watching Sun Tea in the window
Pocket watch for tellin' time
Seems like only yesterday I'd get a blank cassette
Record the country countdown 'cause I couldn't buy it yet

If we drove all the way to Dallas just to buy an Easter dress
We’d take along a Rand McNally, stand in line to pay for gas
God knows that shifting gears ain’t what it used to be
I learned to drive that 55 just like a queen, three on a tree

Hey, whatever happened to waitin' your turn
Doing it all by hand,
'Cause when everything is handed to you
It's only worth as much as the time put in
It all just seemed so good the way we had it
Back before everything became automatic

If you had something to say
You'd write it on a piece of paper
Then you'd put a stamp on it
And they'd get it three days later
Boys would call the girls
And girls would turn them down
Staying married was the only way to work your problems out

Hey, whatever happened to waitin' your turn
Doing it all by hand,
'Cause when everything is handed to you
It's only worth as much as the time put in
It all just seemed so good the way we had it
Back before everything became automatic

Automatic

Let's roll the windows down
Windows with the cranks
Come on let's take a picture
The kind you gotta shake

Hey, whatever happened to waitin' your turn
Doing it all by hand,
'Cause when everything is handed to you
It's only worth as much as the time put in
It all just seemed so good the way we had it
Back before everything became automatic

Yeah

Automatic

and I wonder, have we *SPOILED* ourselves to the point of being more rotten than ever?

*HeatherLynn*

Laugh til it Hurts!

Elizabeth Bennet, one of my favorite fictional women once said:

She and I have that in common.

For I too, dearly love to laugh.

That's one of the reasons I love people who MAKE me laugh.  Not that they need to twist my arm or anything, but I do, laughing is just the best, is it not?

Friday night, at our local American Legion Fish Fry....my friend Linda and her husband Bruce were our dinner dates.  First of all, the American Legion has THE BEST fish in town.....and also some of the cheapest drinks!  I go for the fish, my husband goes for the cheap booze!

Anyway, So Linda, Bruce, myself and Jerimy all sat down for a nice meal and some good conversation and before we know it, we're laughing like a bunch of hyenas!  I mean, we're really hooting and hollering it up at our table!  I don't know if we're really that funny, or if we just think we are, but the laughs were a'plenty and I wasn't even drinking!

The next day, when I went to get out of bed, I noticed this strange feeling in my midsection.  

"What is this sensation?  Why does it hurt when I try to sit up?"

And then it hit me, I laughed so hard, I actually worked my abs out enough that I was SORE!  SORE from laughing!

Can you imagine it, when was the last time you laughed so hard it hurt?

I recommend it!  Highly!

And that m'friends is one reason I'm so so so looking forward to Friday night!  My friend Linda, my little sister, and my mom and myself are all setting out for the great white north!

The land of cheese and beer!  And it's the land of my sister....Angie!  Who's having a birthday this Sunday, and this is one Sister who's not going to miss it!  I'm coming sissy!  Tell Wisconsin to brace itself!  

I have a feeling my ab's are gonna hurt come Monday!

Bring on the Fun!!!

and the cheese!

mmmmmmm

I love Cheese.....

And I love my sister.....

Wisconsin, I'll see you soon!!!

and Linda, and Brooke, and Mom...ya'll will be too!

C'mon Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY TRAILS OHIO!

*HeatherLynn*

Showing my age:

Does it show my age that I was like ecstatic to receive my crock pot liners I ordered from Amazon today?!

I mean, nothing screams 39 quite like a 39 year old jumping up and down, downright giddy over crock pot liners does it?!

Older, but none wiser,

~HeatherLynn~

Somewhere in the middle lies the answer - {REVISED}

{But try really hard not to be---ok?}

So the whole world is seemingly at odds over this whole Meryl Streep Golden Globes speech.

I did not watch the Golden Globes, but I did catch up on the "hoopla" that was her Golden Globes Speech.

Now let me start by saying, I love, love, love Meryl Streep.  She's one of my all-time favorite actresses.  Hands down.  I truly think she's a treasure.  So when reading President Elect Trump called her "overrated" makes me sad, because I think we can all agree, that the woman can ACT!  I mean, lets be honest here...she's just insanely talented.

So here's my take on it....

#1) Do I think that the Golden Globes is THE PLACE to deliver a political message....no, I do not.

{I personally really enjoyed these two award show speeches:}

and this one

{But that's just me}

#2) Do I think she's entitled to express her heartfelt message that she gave, Yes.  Aren't we all entitled to that?

#3) Do I think that Hollywood may be out of touch with the struggles of average Americans....yes, not all, but sadly I believe in part they just might be.

#4) Do I think that Donald Trump should have made fun of a disabled journalist if he did, no, I do not.

#5) Do I think this country has a lot to learn about "respect"....yes.

#6) Do I think that things will get better by emotionally charged political speeches on award shows, Nah.  I mean, Golden Globes are hardly the State of the Union, you know what I mean?  I don't decide my political views based off celebrities!  I mean, those people ACT for a living, they PRETEND to be other people and they live in imaginary worlds.  Being a "public" figure doesn't make you a "Political figure" in my approximation.

#7) Do I think you give two shits about my opinion on this topic, NOPE!  I have no inflated notion of my own importance....and am not disillusioned about my own world-wide insignificance.  But that's the beauty of America, you can say what you want!  Meryl Streep can say what she wants.....Hillary Clinton can say what she wants....clearly Donald Trump is saying what he wants on Twitter.....Oprah has her own damn channel...pretty sure she can say whatever she wants to too.  And trust me, I don't agree with half of the things any of them are saying, but Freedom of Speech is not about always agreeing with what's being said.

The point of all of that, was to say this.....Say what you want, have your own opinion.  Stand up for what you believe in, shout it from rooftops if you feel you must, but the only way freedom of speech is a equal opportunity notion, is if it applies to not just you, but people who disagree with you.  The beauty of FREEDOM is that it's for everyone.  And this is where RESPECT comes in....and oh my is our country lacking in respect, in my opinion.  I feel that IF you have respect for others, you can live in the same world with someone who vehemently disagrees with you without issue.

There are always TWO sides to a story they say....I try to never assume that I know both sides of that story.  I always leave room for understanding.  I respect that others may not feel as I do.  I know that when I make a stand, I very well could be standing out there all alone, but I know that it's my right to do so.  People fought and died for that right, I RESPECT the gift that it is, I HONOR that gift with careful thought and consideration for what I say, who I say it to and when to say it!  

Anyone can run off at the mouth, but the truest way to speak to the hearts of others, is to know your audience, be very aware of your timing, and always allow others to know that you are speaking from your heart, and that you're speaking TO them, NOT AT THEM, and absolutely not FOR them.  Leave room for people to have their own opinion....and to make up their own minds.

For example, I am perfectly fine with you who may be reading this to say "That Heather, she's full of shit she is!...Who does she think she is?  What makes her the authority on public speaking and etiquette on such?"  And I can reply to that with..."you're absolutely right!  I'm NOT the authority on the subject, or any subject for that matter, but my words are just my own personal belief." and then I would say, "what's your take on things?"  "Where do you and I differ?"  "Where do we agree?"

Everyone talks about "WORLD PEACE"....and I just worry that we won't ever be able to get there.  Ever notice how so many people seem to be so up in arms about things, so offended, so outraged.  I mean, people are pissed the hell off about something Meryl Streep said on an award show! lol  WHY!?!  Who cares what Meryl Streep said.  {No offence Meryl, I love you as an actress...but that doesn't mean we agree on politics...I'll give her this though, she did deliver her opinion beautifully....but even beautifully given it had it's share of conflicting agendas...that I think even Meryl herself couldn't hear even though her mouth was saying it.}

**Wonders, can someone get a golden globe for a Golden Globe acceptance speech?**

If it doesn't mean anything to you, if you don't believe it, why try so hard to disprove it?!  Why are you even bothered by it?  What in YOU, wants to fire back?  

I have a theory:  In this situation, one of two things happened when she gave her speech, either #1) - you felt what was said was presented as a fact when in fact it was an opinion.  And you feel the need to right that misconception, OR #2)  What was said told you that you were wrong, or belittled something/someone you love, something you believe in to your core that is sacred to you.

Did you watch Meryl's speech.  Did it ignite a fire in you?  Were you cheering her on?  Were you shooting daggers out your eyeballs at her?
Or did you roll your eyes and be like...Oh, who the hell cares!

You know what I did after I watched it?  I said "Hmmm"...and I didn't say a word until now.  I thought about it, I took it in.  And at the end of the day, I chalked it up to "hey, that's how Meryl feels.  She wanted us to know how she feels, and now we do.
does her opinion really matter to me all that much, not really.

No need to make a federal case of it.

ACTORS...always so "dramatic!"

*winks*

ON A SIDE NOTE:  She could have skipped the snobby jab at the MMA as NOT being "the arts"....I mean, why pissing off a bunch of dudes who can beat the ever living tar out of you seemed like a good idea I'll never know.  It just goes to show, even Meryl, who was upset about something Trump said to a disabled journalist, voiced her opinion about how upsetting it was to her, and somehow in her doing so, she said something that now the MMA community is upset with her about!  Isn't that madness?  Even crazier, I could publish this, and because of something Meryl said about something Trump said, that pissed off MMA fighters, that I reflected on, could make you mad at me, and the whole thing just snowballs into a gigantic avalanche of absurdity that buries us all in a bunch of talk that doesn't amount to anything but more talk.

You can read more about that here:  mma fighters hit back at meryl streep following golden globes jab

I wholeheartedly believe peace starts WITHIN each of us....I don't need to scream what I believe from rooftops to feel validated.  I don't have to have anyone agree with me to be at peace with my own beliefs and truth.  

And a big shout out for Freedom of Speech, that allows me to have this silly little blog, so I can spout off whatever "OPINION" I may have.
And your right to NOT read what I write!
Win/Win

-------------------------------------------------

This was just posted by one of my facebook friends' page...
perhaps if we all took our OPINIONS and followed this simple advice....
We'd find we never choke on our own words?

This being her opinion about other people's opinion! lol

-----------------------------------

See, even people who hate opinions have opinions about those opinions!

But that's just MY opinion! lol

What's yours?

I'm all ears!

Respectfully Yours,

*HeatherLynn*

Guest Speaker

As a writer, one of my favorite things, is when I get asked to speak to a group about writing/being a writer.  Now, about 5 years ago, if you asked me if I enjoyed talking in public, I would have turned green, started sweating profusely and then thrown up on your shoes in a complete panic just at the idea of public speaking!

In college at Ohio State, Freshman year, I took a class....Western Civilization or something to that affect, and I had to write a paper/speech to be read in front of the entire class.  The assignment was worth a ton of points, and we were informed that we were NOT to read from a paper, we needed to memorize and speak from memory or note cards NOT word for word from our written paper.

The day came to deliver our speeches, and I was a wreck, my mind was absolute mush, I couldn't retain any information, my mouth was dry, palms sweaty, I felt dizzy and ill.  When my turn came, I got up, and I read that speech word for word and only looked up once at my friends in the front row of my class.....

I'll never forget the look on their faces either....

It was like they were watching a giant balloon being blow up....and knowing that any second, it was going to pop!

Their eyes were so wide, I knew I must have looked a fright!  So I kept reading, more quickly than before, I could feel the heat coming up from my chest, my heart pounding not just in my chest, but my neck, my ears, even my fingertips, THE HEAT came up coursing through my neck and up to my cheeks, which I was sure were a shade of red not normally seen in humans.  Needless to say, I had points taken off my assignment, and then and there I pretty much knew that a career in public speaking was just not in the cards for me!

So with all of that said, it might come as a shock to you to hear that I'll be speaking to a group of Girl Scouts this coming Friday to go along with the girls attempting to earn their Scribe badges.

Now I've never been a Girl Scout, but I have the utmost respect for the organization and what they stand for, especially in today's society.

Any time I'm given the opportunity to assist an organization that builds courage, and confidence and character, I'm all in!  I'm so excited to talk to the girls about writing, and about the wonderful world of imagination and creativity.  I can't wait to possibly inspire them as they do what they need to do to earn their badges.

I remember myself at their age, so easily wounded, scared to put myself out there in any big way....terrified of public speaking, always wanting to just blend in and not be noticed....writing poetry that nobody ever read, lyrics to songs that would never be sung....all because nobody ever told me it was okay to be myself and do it out loud for everyone to see.  For some reason, I didn't share the one thing I was MOST passionate about until I was in my 30's, even though I'd been writing since I was a child.  What a waste of time that was!  If I can inspire one child to have the guts to share her gifts with the world and not hide them....then I'll have achieved an amazing feat.  And who knows....maybe you reading this....maybe it will be your daughter or granddaughter that will be at Friday's meeting that I get to speak to....maybe just maybe, something I say will matter in the life of another.

Why I was ever terrified of the absolute HONOR in that, I'll never know!

Now, I must forewarn you that I may not be THE BEST public speaker there ever was or will be, but I promise you this, I'll show up, I'll be passionate and as inspiring as I can be, and I'll do it with honor!

Yours Truly,

HeatherLynn

Honorary Scout for an Hour

Empty Nesters

So my hubby and I are officially empty-nesters...you know, parents with no kids at home.  Now, while I fought like hell to keep from being an empty-nester {ie:  Begged E to go to the Ohio State Branch and NOT go off to college}...and I was so so sad when he then left us...I've got to say it has it's perks too.

For instance, when I have to pee in the middle of the night, I do not have to put on pants....or any clothes at all for that matter!  I just throw back the covers and go....no matter my state of dress...be it naked, or what have you.....I don't know about you guys, but this is a major SCORE in the world of me.

Oh and E**** if you're reading this luv, know that I love you and this is in no way meant to mean that I'm happy you ditched us for a life of your own! {laughs}

My BFF and I were talking the other day, she recently moved away from here....and we discussed the empty-nest situation.  She mentioned being uneasy about the idea of it being just her and her husband again.  Especially since they are so far away from everyone they know....like it will LITERALLY JUST BE THE TWO OF THEM.  And you know, I was like her too when I was faced with it, like what if it's not the same?  I mean, kids, like it or not, completely affect the dynamic of a relationship.  Hell a major part of your life is little league games, and choir concerts, and baseball meetings and what have you....so to not only lose the kid in your home, but also your lives being so dependent on one another, it's a shock to the system.  And it is a little worrisome when faced with such a big change, but I have found that I am really enjoying it just being the two of us!  It's kind of like we're teenagers again, or like people in our early 20's and dating.  Ok, so we still don't have the ENERGY of people in their 20's...but you know what I mean.

When losing a child to college, you also lose some other pretty neat things, like dishes in the sink, laundry in the basket, shoes on the living room floor....crowded parking at your house.  There's one less person to fight over the remote with, food in the fridge seems to last like 100x longer....you realize quickly foods that apparently only your son likes, because suddenly, you realize nobody is eating that food when you are throwing it out because it expired.  This of course being the EXACT same food that disappeared at record speed previously.  Milk, bread and eggs suddenly are in much lower demand, and your laundry detergent seems to really go a lot further!

While I do miss the kid, and I love him just as much as ever, it's just one of those things when you realize you have to let them go, you have to let them grow up and turn into the person they are going to be.  Learning to love from afar is really hard at first.  You feel like a piece of your soul is missing, but before long, you're starting to adjust and when you walk naked, or nearly naked to the toilet, you might find yourself even slightly a little jazzed!

Don't fear the empty nest....because I tell you, change, while scary, isn't always bad!  I'm really excited to see how this "just me and husband" time will be spent!  I can only hope that it will make us MORE reliant on one another, have more time for "us"....and find joy in each other's company on a newer, more intimate level.....something about knowing it's just the two of us, seems to resonate through the whole house, making that empty bedroom where a teenage boy once lived...a whole lot less sad!

And when I do get sad, I tell myself, summer break will be here before you know it, and then he'll be home for months!  And that will be a whole new set of adjusting and re-adjusting! lol

Yours Truly,

HeatherLynn