The Sound of Me

Do you hear that?

That's the sound of all three kids in school...if only for another hour...and I have to admit that the silence brings tears to my eyes.

And what about that?

Oh yes, it's the oh-so-welcomed, nasally voice of Ira Glass and "This American Life," and now, an excerpt from "The Moth" radio program that I've listened to from start to finish without a single interruption.  Heaven.

And that...oh, that's me actually typing this post at my kitchen table instead of on the toilet, the only place where while holding the door closed with my foot, I can get a moment's peace to collect my thoughts.

Oh wait, now it's me singing at the top of my lungs in my underwear in the kitchen...okay, it's really more like a guttural "Braveheart" cry of freedom while drinking my first non-reheated cup of coffee contemplating whether I could down a martini before 11am.

Geez Louise...why didn't anyone tell me that this could be so good?

A part of me feels badly that I'm so happy to be away from my children, while another part feels justified after all of the years of care taking and yet another is exhilarated at the thought of reclaiming this time for me.  The question is...what is the sound of me?

As I ponder that, I realize that the most challenging component is figuring out what in the Hell you can do for 2.5 hours 3 mornings a week.  Do I do the obligatory grocery shopping, laundry sorting, toilet cleaning?  Or indulge myself in writing, reading, sleeping or running?  Or do I just throw caution to the wind and eat massive quantities of Ben & Jerry's while watching repeat episodes of "Scandal" on the couch?

I have no idea where to begin...so, for now, I'll just sit in silence and take in the moment.  It's a sweet one and I have a feeling that it's only going to get sweeter.

God bless Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.  I think it's going to be a great school year!