Sharing the Experience

This morning I dropped Carolon off at Love Field for the flight to Houston Hobby and tomorrow she will board a cruise ship out of Galveston for her inaugural cruise. I sit at home still awaiting my induction into what seems like a uniform opinion from those who’ve been, “there is nothing quite like a cruise, the food is wonderful, and everything you need is taken care of.” Ok I get the point, but still I sit at home!

This summer Carolon has spent several days out of town helping to care for a new grandbaby addition to the family and so in prep for this trip she asked me,” so what are you going to do while I am gone?” I responded, “Well, last time I read five books and was able to catch up on a lot of work.” Yes, honesty is the best policy, but not without consequences. Again I sit at home, awaiting what may prove to be an allusive dream of one day sailing the high seas.

In anticipation of applying for a doctoral program at summers end, I have work needing to be done over the next week. It is the perfect time to shift to a higher gear. The itch is returning to write, and I’m feeling something a little demanding, perhaps a little more scholarly for a journal offering, may command my vision. VBS is just a week away and I am torn between an adult textual study which is my passion, or a video series on family which has been quite popular. Regardless I have to decide the direction and do the prep. And yet the waves and the breeze, the sound of laughter and the aroma of exquisite dishes keep high jacking higher and more worthy thoughts. I sit at home, wanting, waiting, wondering…

Last night Carolon and I sat down for a wonderful steak dinner to celebrate (though a day late) 31 years of marriage. And what I have discovered, more in recent months than ever before, we have reached a point in life, in marriage, where I have this unexplainable sort of satisfaction along with her in what she experiences. When she went to help with the new grandbaby I felt a sense of being there and enjoying it also. And in anticipation for this trip I didn’t feel regret for not going, just excited she was going with three close friends to have, as we say, “the time of her life.”

Yes I sit at home wanting to one day board a ship myself and be overwhelmed by the vastness of the ocean all around, but tomorrow I feel the joy for and through Carolon.