… awaits the arrival of the last sibling to complete the circle. With kids spanning all age groups, there is not a dull moment. Even phone conversations are choppy and distracted with constant cacophony in the background.
With the journey just a couple of days away, the mad scramble is on to get all things wrapped up, last minute shopping trips completed followed by the much favored (not!) activity of packing. Papers lay scattered around the house with bullet ed lists of things-to-do. The scurry is on to get homework wrapped up, procure permission slips from school and complete last minute transitions at work.
Itineraries are being planned for vacations to be taken during the sojourn back home. Logistics of travel are yet to be made. This not so trivial task is further complicated due to time difference between self and the travel agency helping with the vacation planning. Given that the folks at these travel agencies don’t show up at work till 10:30 am, this makes for many late nights where in beauty sleep has been sacrificed for the sole reason of conversing and clarifying plans with said agents.
The anticipation can be heard and felt on every phone conversations with the crazy siblings. The madness and chaos continues as each of the siblings plans their individual travel plans. Reunion and kodak moments are much anticipated when all individual travel plans conclude the first part of December. When the siblings finally get together to spend evenings and nights together, there are birthday parties to be planned, be it for the sibling who turns 40 or the nephew who turns two. In the midst of all these, are the endless shopping trips for kids, self, family & friends, relatives to visit and catch up with and holidays to celebrate together as one big happy family.
So much to look forward to that it almost makes me feel guilty to be this happy and excited (kala tikka here please!) These are the moments that each one of us eagerly await, savor and etch to memory while we are all spread across various continents, busy in the daily routines, and struggling to find a few quiet moments to talk to each other. These are the moments that will stay in our thoughts as kids grow and make a life of their own. These are the special moments the excited grandparents experience as they welcome and cherish the precious time with their fledglings who flew the nest years back.
Time for new memories and a silent prayer for eternal love and happiness!!
