Another fun weekend at college. This time at Alexandra's college in Bloomington Indiana, home of Indiana University. The campus was beautiful, fall colors crowding each other, all vying for attention. Warm temps and lots of friends, parents and students, partying and enjoying life. My son, Stevie, drove down from Notre Dame. We were once again blessed with the entire family together. Laughter mixed with teasing and stories as new college friends were welcomed into our growing family circle.
As much as I love being a part of the kids lives at school and getting to know their friends, I still long for the times when the five of us can be together on our own. Watching all three of them as they laugh and sing, tease and banter, warms my "mother's" heart. Full and happy I follow along, game for anything, just to be together with my family. .
As I sat in the car on our journey home, watching the vibrant colors race past the window, I wondered if I will ever get used to this letting go of the way things were. It may be this acute awareness of the brief and transitory nature of our lives is a good thing. It may be this gentle tension which has become a frequent visitor of mine will be the catalyst that keeps me ever more firmly planted in the present of each and every day. The knowing that these days are passing all too soon, just as the colors of the leaves brighten the autumn skyline as if to tell us; Be Awake! Take no moment for granted! This time of beauty is fleeting. Stay awake! Don't go to sleep!
Your collage is lovely, the touch of purple in the tree and the butterfly. I know your feeling...we drove home from the ocean this weekend, with the golden colors flying by us and I really felt the passage of time. Sad and happy... Roxanne
Posted by: rivergardenstudio | October 21, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Maybe? We already know, and how beautifully you express it.
Posted by: Karen Maezen Miller | October 21, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Hi, Kathleen -
Your collages are exquisite!
And I love your blog!
~ Tina
Posted by: Tina | October 22, 2008 at 02:16 PM
So glad that you posted again. I stop by and hope that something new will pop up because I love reading your beautiful writings. This post is so bittersweet. I understand, my sweet friend, I understand. I am so glad that you had such a lovely time with your family.
Hugs,
Debbie
Posted by: Debbie W | October 22, 2008 at 03:38 PM
What a beautiful post - loved your collage - the images spoke to my heart as did the words. My eldest is in her first year of college - so hard to let go, so wonderful to see her blooming - and yet, I miss her and our family time terribly.
Posted by: tami | November 08, 2008 at 12:45 PM