Month: October 2017

Empty nesting.

The real life adventures of a Creole Gypsy1 Comment

This is a little bit of insight. I hope it helps some of you on the cusp of this time in life.

I actually sat and stared at the screen for 15 minutes before writing this. Where to begin? So many feels. So many levels. I expected none of them. I was/am prepared for none of them.

I know as parents, we sacrifice to raise our kids to be the best they can be. To not have the struggles or make the mistakes we did. To make sure they become successful adults. We look forward to the moment when they will fly and leave the nest. I think this desire kicks in to full gear around 13, aka…Puberty Hell! Before that, they’re still relatively cute. But soon there would be no more waking up to the morning chaos getting them to school, calls from teachers, teenage angst and drama, daycare, summer camp, and the mysterious window left open that syphoned our money away! (Insert ridiculous grocery bill here!) The light at the end of the tunnel. I know my husband and I counted down the day’s.

But here’s the thing. No one prepares you for the overwhelming feeling that takes over when that last chickadee flys the coop. The “what now?” You see like most empty nesters, my husband and I are just touching 50. Not retired, and don’t have an RV waiting to be driven off into the sunset on a round the world adventure. (Yet.) It’s a little bit of an adjustment to go from being pulled in 5 directions, and solving the daily crisis that arises, to absolutely no one needs you. You have all of this extra time to fill. And frankly you did your job successfully. They’ve flown, graduating college, adulting, being responsible, making grand babies, and careers. Way to go parental peeps!

It really hit me recently when our last one drove off in a U-Haul with his little family in tow. They weren’t out of the driveway 15 minutes, and my husband looked at me and said “well, what do you want to do now?” I was at a loss. “I don’t know.” “Like right now? Tomorrow? This weekend? The rest of our lives? I don’t know.” I really didn’t know I would need an itinerary! That’s when I realized we’ve got all this time to fill now. There are no distractions or people around as a buffer. It’s just me and this dude! I’m really grateful I actually like and love my husband! I can see where this would turn into a problem for some. But it does take a little work to get back into being just the two of you. The “empty nesters.” So as a first step to embracing our new found “aloneness” that night, we slept with the bedroom door open (first time in 13 years) and I walked to the fridge at 2am in just my underwear! I know, TMI, but it was a pivotal baby step. It made me remember why we were excited for this time in life in the first place. We got our privacy back! We got “us” back!

It still takes some work, but it’s getting easier and feeling more normal everyday. Like it should be. I have time to take pottery classes if I want, cook or not cook, go out to eat on a random Tuesday, work in the yard together, and find some hobbies we both enjoy, and kick up the traveling a notch! (Honestly though, that not needing a robe thing is still my favorite!) I did recently get calls from each of the kids needing different advice…How to cook a favorite dish I make, how to get dog vomit out of carpet, and an “I’m missing home.”

I guess they do still need us after all. (But from afar.) 😉

Happy nesting.

M.

Zion. The Bucket List trip.

The real life adventures of a Creole GypsyLeave a comment

We’ve been to Zion a few time’s now. Once in the Winter, once in the spring, and our most recent trip, in October. As it turn’s out, October is the most popular time for hiking in the park. The weather is perfect. Having said this, it is CROWDED! The last two visit’s were off season and we had the luxury of driving into the canyon in our vehicle. This trip, we had to use the Shuttle service. Not a fan! If you don’t get in line by 7am, expect a parking nightmare, and over an hour wait and standing room, (actually squeezing room) only once on board. I imagine these crowd’s are as bad as the summer time as well. (Thank you social media for letting the entire world in on the beauty) okay rant over.

This was our check off the Bucket List trip to Hike The Narrows and Angel’s Landing. This is how it went.

We always fly into Vegas, and drive to the park. We flew in early to have a day of recon, and I am glad we did. We decided after assessing the crowd and transportation situation to rent our dry suit gear the day before to save time on hike day. We only had to rent pants, socks, shoe’s and walking sticks due to the weather conditions. It was a whopping $43. Worth every penny. In the summer, I would imagine you could do without the pants, but it can be a cold hike. The Virgin River is on average 55° and you’re in it 95% of the hike, sooooo, rent the dry suit. It’s roughly 10 miles round trip, for the “bottom up” hike. The Top down hike requires a permit. Pack in plenty of water (Camel Pack) and food, I don’t mean a granola bar, pack in FOOD! Cliff Bars, jerky, pb&j, etc. You will burn calories. And any special medication you may need. It will take a few hour’s to complete the hike. It. Is. Amazing! Bucket List check!

Day 2, we decided to tackle Angel’s Landing. Again, you need to get an early start, not just to beat the crowd’s, but if it is sunny, you will be subjected to unrelenting sun, with no shade to escape in as your lung’s are exploding from tackling the 1500ft gain that starts almost immediately! (Way before Walter’s Wiggles) personally I thought the front face of the hike was way tougher than “the wiggles.” Now let’s talk about the chain rail that gets you to the very top of Angel’s Landing…this is not for the faint of heart, inexperienced climber’s, or someone who has the slightest fear of hights! But the worst part is the amount of people trying to tackle this part of the hike fighting for one chain rail, hiking both up and down! I made it through the first section of climbing the chain, until I got to a section of no chain, and my brain went nope!!! I’m not up for plummiting 1500ft to my death today! I’ll just sit right here honey, have fun, and Godspeed! So my husband continued on, and I sat and made a new friend who thought the same thing I did. We had a high altitude picnic, while we waited for our determined daredevil husband’s! Thanks Jenn for hanging with me! This is a tough hike, but worth it, because the view’s are spectacular! I guess. That’s what my husband said! But I’m still going to call it a Bucket List check!