Ever since Kai was born, I have been wishing for time to myself. I just want to be left alone to do my own thing.
It has been a long wait. But somehow, earlier this month, the moon, the stars and the planets aligned together and I got 3 days to myself! They mainly fell on working days, but hey, I will take what I can.
I had known for weeks that Tomo would be gone for 2.5 weeks in early August, he was off on a business trip to London to go see the Olympics. (<waving> Hi Aunty June, he considered meeting up with you but he had a busy schedule and had to look after his boss who can't speak English.) And then just before he left, his parents asked if Kai and Taiga could spend a few days with them over the obon (hungry ghost festival) period. Who am I so stop some grandparent bonding?
So there I was on a Sunday, rolling a suitcase and bringing the kids to the grandparent's house. They invited me to stay for dinner but so keen was I not to lose a precious minute of freedom that I declined dinner and left.
As I walked away from their house, a very strange feeling descended upon me. It was just so weird to know I will not have anyone jumping around or tugging at me for the next 3 days. And what do I do now? For the past 8 years, I have had all these thoughts about what I could have been doing if someone took the boys off me but suddenly, I can't remember what are those things I have been wanting to do!
So I just made my way home and started wandering around the shops in my area. I was walking around quite aimlessly. Is this what the empty-nest syndrome is all about? And then I thought to myself, stop wasting precious time. I have always wanted to sit in a cafe, people watch and surf the internet - WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.
Krispy Kreme is in a prime location for people watching, so I went in, ordered my doughnuts and drink and went to the counter to pay. I did not recognize the girl behind the counter but she obviously recognized me - with my noisy boisterous boys, I think lots of people don't forget us around here. Without a word, she pours 3 glasses of water and puts them on my tray!
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