Well.... as we've all heard by now, the music is perpetual, it is the hearing that is intermittent... and boy, I'm straining to hear it tonight....
Cindy went down to Scranton to visit her Mom and see her brand new nephew. She took Jessica with her, Ashleigh and John opting to stay with me. Don't get me wrong, please! That's all fine, and those are good things. Eleanor loves to have Cindy come down for visits and Cindy gets a chance to spend some time with her. But the problem is I have this weird feeling again, like a part of me is missing.
In a few more weeks, we'll celebrate our 23rd wedding anniversary. I think I love her more now than I did when we married. Is that even possible? I can't stand the thought of being away from her, even for one night. God has blessed me with the most wonderful companion imaginable. She is my mate in every sense of the word. When she leaves, even for a brief time, all I can think about is when I will see her again.
Ok, ok... so I'm a sap and I should get over it... quit whining.... deal with it! It's only one night, give me a stinkin' break!!
I don't think so.
You see, Cindy and I fell in love when she was playing in the pit orchestra for a production of South Pacific at Furman University. I think I went to every rehearsal, just see see her during breaks and walk her back to her dorm afterward. And, in the heartfelt words of Emile... "once you have found her, never let her go".
A little louder, please, Emile. She's about a hundred miles away.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Dear John
Each family has a name or two that sort of gets passed down though the generations. In our family, it's "John". John Clarence Newell (my grandfather) , John Lyndon Newell (my uncle) and John Evans Newell (my son). Sort of a neat thing those family traditions, except when they are encountered by a flustered mom with a cell phone.
So... John Evans (the son) and Jessica are helping at our church's Vacation Bible School. Cindy and I go to pick them up... we have a little trouble locating John.... John has a cellphone... Cindy tries to dial him up... in her address folder, John Evans and John Lyndon (the uncle) are adjacent... guess which one she dials?
Somewhere nestled deep in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, in a sleepy little town, at the end of a beautiful late spring day, the phone rings. "Hello." "John? (this doesn't sound like John) " "Yes." "John? (this can't be John, but I dialed the right number) " "Yes. (who is this? what's going on there? sounds like a frat party)" "Have you found your sister? (don't play dumb with me, bub)" "Sister? Who is this? (and why is this woman so angry with me?) "Oops, wrong number, sorry! (I hate cellphones, they are a tool of Satan) " click.
A few minutes pass and then Cindy realizes what she's done. She hurriedly redials John (the uncle), this time on purpose. Somewhere nestled deep in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, in a sleepy little town, at the end of a beautiful late spring day, the phone rings again. This time however, Linda, worried that she may be dealing with a stalker, grabs the phone. "Hello. (please let it be a telemarketer)" "May I speak with John, please? (kill them with kindness, that's what I always say) " "May I ask who's calling? (I can't believe this crazed female has the nerve to call here again) " "This is Cindy Newell, John's niece. (like at this point she's really going to believe that)" "(giggle, giggle, laugh out loud) Just a moment. (I think we just found the female lead for the sequel to Fried Green Tomatoes)"
We ended up having a wonderful chat with John Lyndon, it just took awhile to get there. And, by the way, we eventually found John Evans and Jessica, and wound up at Starbucks for an iced latte and a few more laughs at mom's expense. No, Linda, we're not crazy, just somewhat challenged in the area of wireless communications. We love you guys.
So... John Evans (the son) and Jessica are helping at our church's Vacation Bible School. Cindy and I go to pick them up... we have a little trouble locating John.... John has a cellphone... Cindy tries to dial him up... in her address folder, John Evans and John Lyndon (the uncle) are adjacent... guess which one she dials?
Somewhere nestled deep in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, in a sleepy little town, at the end of a beautiful late spring day, the phone rings. "Hello." "John? (this doesn't sound like John) " "Yes." "John? (this can't be John, but I dialed the right number) " "Yes. (who is this? what's going on there? sounds like a frat party)" "Have you found your sister? (don't play dumb with me, bub)" "Sister? Who is this? (and why is this woman so angry with me?) "Oops, wrong number, sorry! (I hate cellphones, they are a tool of Satan) " click.
A few minutes pass and then Cindy realizes what she's done. She hurriedly redials John (the uncle), this time on purpose. Somewhere nestled deep in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, in a sleepy little town, at the end of a beautiful late spring day, the phone rings again. This time however, Linda, worried that she may be dealing with a stalker, grabs the phone. "Hello. (please let it be a telemarketer)" "May I speak with John, please? (kill them with kindness, that's what I always say) " "May I ask who's calling? (I can't believe this crazed female has the nerve to call here again) " "This is Cindy Newell, John's niece. (like at this point she's really going to believe that)" "(giggle, giggle, laugh out loud) Just a moment. (I think we just found the female lead for the sequel to Fried Green Tomatoes)"
We ended up having a wonderful chat with John Lyndon, it just took awhile to get there. And, by the way, we eventually found John Evans and Jessica, and wound up at Starbucks for an iced latte and a few more laughs at mom's expense. No, Linda, we're not crazy, just somewhat challenged in the area of wireless communications. We love you guys.
Friday, June 8, 2007
A Glimpse Into The Future
This week Cindy and I got a brief glimpse of what it will be like to be "empty nesters" in about another 6 years. All three kids were at camp. Ashleigh, John and Jessica attended Student Life Camp, a week long church sponsored camp/retreat for teenagers. They had a great time, but I think Cindy and I enjoyed it more.
Don't get me wrong, I really love my children, but it was really neat for Cindy and I to spend a week rediscovering each other. I was hoping to get at least one day away from work, but it just didn't work out that way. I think it was for the best though, because Cindy got to spend all day each day doing exactly what she wanted to do, when she wanted to do it. Of course, she got to spend a little time each morning giving glory to Starbucks, sitting on the patio with latte and morning paper in hand.
Our evenings together were very special (don't worry, I do know this is a family show). Each night we shared a home-cooked meal by candlelight. Nothing fancy, just good food, soft music, and soul mates. Last night, we decided to go out and find someplace to eat we'd never been. We chose The Inn At Baxter, a relatively new establishment not too far from us. It was very nice. Crab cakes, fresh greens, braised veal, grilled salmon and homemade banana pudding. Quite tasty! We had a table in the back of the dining room near the fireplace, ours for the entire evening. We really enjoyed ourselves. We talked more this week than we have in a long time.
The kids are all home now and things are returning to normal. Ashleigh leaves tomorrow for another week at a different Student Life camp, this time as a staff member. John and Jessica are volunteering at our church's Vacation Bible School next week. The summer blitz is on... but for a few days, I was able to pause and fall in love with the most beautiful woman in the world, all over again.
Don't get me wrong, I really love my children, but it was really neat for Cindy and I to spend a week rediscovering each other. I was hoping to get at least one day away from work, but it just didn't work out that way. I think it was for the best though, because Cindy got to spend all day each day doing exactly what she wanted to do, when she wanted to do it. Of course, she got to spend a little time each morning giving glory to Starbucks, sitting on the patio with latte and morning paper in hand.
Our evenings together were very special (don't worry, I do know this is a family show). Each night we shared a home-cooked meal by candlelight. Nothing fancy, just good food, soft music, and soul mates. Last night, we decided to go out and find someplace to eat we'd never been. We chose The Inn At Baxter, a relatively new establishment not too far from us. It was very nice. Crab cakes, fresh greens, braised veal, grilled salmon and homemade banana pudding. Quite tasty! We had a table in the back of the dining room near the fireplace, ours for the entire evening. We really enjoyed ourselves. We talked more this week than we have in a long time.
The kids are all home now and things are returning to normal. Ashleigh leaves tomorrow for another week at a different Student Life camp, this time as a staff member. John and Jessica are volunteering at our church's Vacation Bible School next week. The summer blitz is on... but for a few days, I was able to pause and fall in love with the most beautiful woman in the world, all over again.
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