I’m Home!

I’m home. Finally. I’ve been home a few times over the past year and a half but that was only for a week or a few days. This time I brought everything back with me. It’s easy to pack when you’re bringing everything.

For those that don’t know, I have been in Virginia Beach since January of 2020 with the Grampy Daycare for my grandson. It was only supposed to be for a few months but then came COVID-19 and other life interruptions.

However, it was time to come home. My grandson, Liam, needs to be with others his own age. He needs to grow and learn but I am going to miss him terribly. Priscilla and I will still make monthly trips to see him but I won’t be there every day.

There are many things I’m going to miss now that I’m back home.

• I’ll miss hearing those words, “Go give Grampy a goodnight kiss!” Followed by the pitter patter of little feet running to my room.
• I’m going to miss how we used to hide from mommy by climbing under the covers in my bed.
• I’ll miss “Fluffernutter Friday” and “Matching Shirt Monday.”
• I’ll miss going for daily walks and seeing the ducks.
• I’m going to miss our after-dinner Oreos while mommy finished the dishes.

I’ll miss Virginia Beach too.

• They actually have Spring there. There’s plenty of rain but when the sun is out it can warm up to the 60s, 70s or even 80s. We always seem to have it windy and chilly here and then —- BAM! Summer!
• Maybe because it’s a military town but everyone seems polite. Yes there are a few exceptions but many times I would have someone hold the door or say, “After you sir!” If I said,”Excuse me,” I would often hear, “No, no, no, you’re good.”
• I’ll miss seeing my two oldest children almost everyday. We call each other or FaceTime often but it’s not the same.
• I’m going to miss Krispy Kreme donuts being right down the street.

I am looking forward to seeing my two youngest children more often.

Plus:

• Being able to watch the Sox and Bruins more often then when they’re the network Game of the Week.
• Starting my garden.
• Linguica pizza.
• Ma’s Donuts reopening.
• Listening to the rain on the roof while reading a good book on the couch in our front room.
• Getting a puppy!
  

And most importantly—— being back in the same zip code with Priscilla, my wife. Just to hang out with her and run some routine errands will be fantastic. I kind of felt like I was on my own deployment the past few months —— but the food was better!

So yes, my adventure has come to a close. I’m really glad I did it, proving to myself that my health limitations weren’t going to stop me. Oh I had to be careful and listen to my body. When my grandson took a nap, I took a nap with the baby monitor right on my belly.

Now —— what’s next?

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