Silver Linings

Patrick has been home for 3 weeks - dramatically increasing our food budget and wreaking havoc with my daily routines.  I've loved (almost) every minute.  When we sent him off last February, I struggled with the prospect of not seeing him for 2 years, but we talked on the phone a lot, and I got increasingly used to the idea.  When he was attacked, I had my own version of PTSD that left me with little sleep and on an emotional roller coaster. 

Having him sent home was not what we would ever say we wanted - I wanted his Peace Corps experience to be "life-changing" and a wonderful jump-start to his career in disaster relief.  But seeing him, and talking, and watching dumb TV shows, and working out, and cooking dinners - these were the cure for my PTSD as much as they were the cure for his. 

We'll have to send him off again soon, and it will be just as hard as the first time.  Maybe harder, because we know the dangers and we're now aware of his ambivalence.  It's not a perfect job, or a perfect setting.  He'll struggle and he'll be lonely. And he'll learn from it all - life-changing and sometimes painful lessons.

The silver linings have been wonderful.  From a violent attack, we got - so far - three weeks of Patrick's time, a new appreciation for what he's doing and his goals, and a chance to hang out.  Patrick told me that he has a whole new perspective on the importance of his relationships with friends and family.  He no longer takes them for granted.  It will make it hard for him to go back, facing another 18 months away from the people he loves.  Sigh.  Hard for us, too. 

Safe

Anna's odyssey should end today, when she reaches Northampton MA.  She's been on the road for 2 full weeks, not checking in as often as I'd like, but doing the trip her way and at her pace.  I think she's ready to be done, but I really hope she enjoyed the trip.  Patrick is on an airplane as I write, coming home for a few weeks.  It's been a very rough time since he was mugged, and I'm REALLY looking forward to feeding him and talking to him, and sharing his company while he's here.  Not sure what to expect, but I stocked the refrigerator, made sure he'd have a cell phone to use, and put his mail on his bed. 

By tonight, both kids will be safe at home - Anna with her friends at college, and Patrick with us.  Not really his home anymore, but I hope it will do for a little while. Sleep has been hard for me to come by, and I hope that will be better starting tonight, too.  The weather has changed to fall patterns already, but I don't care.  I'm VERY ready to be done with this summer.