My parents celebrate their 44th wedding anniversary today, somewhere way back of beyond up the Amazon. Those of you who know them will appreciate that this is probably the last place you would expect them to be spending this time together, if the past is anything to go by. But retirement suits them and the adventurous spirit of my Mom has enticed my Dad to venture beyond his usual zone of comfort. I hope they are making marvelous discoveries moment by moment and are surrounded by new birds they will love to see.
I am about to go into a 2 hour meeting, then drive home on a gorgeous day to change my children's lives with a conversation that has been bumped up a few days from when I expected. There is no best time to tell two little people who are dearer than life to me that their parents are planning to divorce. I actually think I will do it with great compassion and sensitivity, for it will be me introducing this topic to them and then both of us answering questions and offering comfort to our children. I will look them both in the eyes, with love, and tell them they are loved, and I will be in the moment, and up to the task.
I will not let myself resent the brushback pitch, high and inside. That is what pitchers do. It is their nature. I understand the high heat. I can guard the plate. And I fouled off a few of them, but this is ball four, and this weekend I get to walk, and maybe even advance the runner.
I leave at crack of dawn tomorrow for the Battle of Monmouth reenactment. I will then stay with people I love and return late on Sunday. What will have changed at home will be hard to tell on the surface. I will be a curious and engaged father to respond to what may stir beneath. I was never a good fielder, but I can read the signs.
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