quiet

I don't think I'm often aware of how rarely I am left completely alone these days. At work, I am often in my office typing away on my computer...alone...until about 22 fantastic 4 and 5 year olds walk past my open office door and each give me their own enthusiastic greeting and accompanying wave as they pass. Today, however, I have been alone more than I think I've been in a long, long time. I started back to work today. I worked in my office deleting old emails (900+ of them, believe it or not) and getting PreK classes set up. It was the kind of detail work that wears me out. I had to surface and find the other 2 adults in the building (our secretaries) a couple of times out of shear need to remain sane. Tonight, the boys are spending their second night away with Jim's parents. Jim is out with a friend, catching up and at the same time, preparing to say goodbye as his friend moves to Reno for a new job. So, I'm here. Alone. In a very quiet house that feels too big and empty for just me and the dog. I have cleaned our bathrooms and emptied the dishwasher. I've checked email and my favorite blogs. And now it's just me and the dog. And the quiet. It's strange...I don't really notice the background noise that the boys create in our lives until it's gone. Sometimes, all I wish for is a few moments alone. But maybe being alone isn't exactly what I was wishing for as much as a few moments of time without interruption. So, tonight, I am blessed with unlimited, uninterrupted time to think and read and write. And I'm wishing for my little interruptions.