Then what????????????

Last night the four of us went downtown to check out Chaska River Days, the town's annual festival. There was food and music, games, and craft sales. As we started looking around the park, the kids started asking for this and that, money for games, snacks, etc... John can get claustrophobic pretty quickly and he was already thinking about heading back to the car. I was like, "no, we just got here." In the old days that might have led to a tense exchange, with someone going off to the car to pout. This time though, I took a deep breath, took out my wallet, gave each boy $10 and set down the blankets and chairs. Then us "old folks" sat down and enjoyed the band that was playing. I made sure the boys stayed together and then relaxed. At the intermission we had funnel cakes (doughboys to all my RI peeps) and the boys returned. Alex had a strawberry smoothie with the little umbrella and Zachary had a little mystical wizard staue and a bandana to wear so he could be "cool". We ended up having a nice time. It hit me though that things are changing. Slowly but surely my boys are growing up, and are becoming capable.
When we got home afterwards, we passed by a neighbor lady from down the way. Zachary stopped to pet her dog and as they left, the lady said to the puppy, "That Zachary, he's one of your favorite friends." Tonight, he was riding his bike around and ended up visiting with "the grillers", these men who seem to have endless amounts of time on their hands to hang out and do just that- grill, and grill some more. When he got back, he had barbecue sauce on his cheeks and had finished up an ear of corn. He said I'd been offered some corn as well, but that he often gets offered a piece of chicken or a hamburger. Then he went back out and rode some more, after asking me of course when our dinner would be ready. It just made me smile that all these people have such a good impression of my son, and I hadn't realized it.
Last week when we went camping to Camden State Park, I had the best time ever. I truly feel like it was the best vacation ever- better than Disney World, Hershey, Las Vegas, etc... Those were all great destination places and we saw a lot while there, but this time we truly enjoyed "each other". We ate every meal together, enjoyed cooking them as well. In the end that $25 cookstove came in handy. Sure we visited some sights, but we were relaxed about it. We went to Pipestone National Monument and looked at the rocks the Dakota dig into to get the material they need to make pipes; we saw bison in a natural setting and the cliffs they may have been pushed off 150 years ago. We hiked both for fun and to collect more of the little Geocaching cards all the state parks are giving away. I think one of my fondest memories was when we all fished in the Redwood River, off one of the hiking trails at the park, just this little out of the way place. There were railroad tracks high above, and along that cliff wall were all holes that the birds had created right into the wall. They'd just zoom in and out. We all caught some trout that day, rainbow trout. We put them all back because we just like catching them, but it was one of those memories that will last forever. As the trip ended and we had to head back to reality, I wondered how many more trips we would take as our little family of four?
I guess what I realized tonight is that I think I've done a good job. I agree with the poet who said to take "the road less travelled". We have and I wouldn't trade it for anything. But then what? My goal has always been to raise the kids, to be there for them and watch them grow, but then what? I'm thinking that when Zachary turns 18 I'll only be 39 and 42 when Alex turns 18. Both boys, grown, when I'm still pretty young. I guess the next step would be a career for myself and lots of time for me and John. Hopefully, we won't kill each other. I picked up this book at the library, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die in the US and Canada. Some great spots to check out, some I've actually already been to. I have the book 1,000 PLaces to See in the World Before You Die, but let's be honest, unless you win a huge mega-lotto, you can't ever accomplishment but a fraction of that list. The US book might be semi-practical. Now, I just have to plan to live to be 110:) Good news though, I have lost 2 more pounds- 12 since November, every little bit helps.