Good Friday

I am sure that most people are thinking of Good Friday in the Christian sense.
I spent some time this morning reading and contemplating that kind of Good Friday. I love the Easter stories, and am very thankful for the gifts of faith and resonance that they stir within me. But this Good Friday, I am thankful for something else: our son is at home with us for the long weekend.

Gregg and I have adapted pretty well to the "empty nest." We are thrilled that David was accepted to a fine university, and that he loves being a student there. I feel grateful for this part of his life, and ours. But when he comes home, our hearts are lifted in a way that is difficult to put into words. It must be so for many parents whose child arrives from living away from home for weeks (or months) at a time. For us, who would be/should be also raising a 17-year old daughter, but are not, David's arrival is intensely joy-filled.

He actually arrived at home last evening. I was at the Dudleys' house, having picked up Leslie at the ferry for a photo shoot. I had planned to host everyone here at our house for dinner after the photo shoot, but had to change the venue, because Gregg has been "hosting" a cough/cold this week, and Leslie is in the middle of chemo. I didn't want her to catch anything from Gregg, so Heidi & Paul agreed that we could stay there for dinner. I brought brownies, wine, cider and satsumas, Heidi brought out cheese, bread, chips, made one of her fabulous salads, and we got barbecued ribs & cornbread from a local provider. Voila` - a movable feast!

A break in the shooting was the perfect opportunity for dinner, and David arrived at Dudleys' in time to eat. Just seeing his car pull into the driveway made my heart so happy! I walked out and gave him a hug before he had even turned off the car's radio. It is so good to see him.

David was able to assist with the after-dark portion of the shoot. Paul decided to torch their dried-out Christmas tree and use the flames as a backdrop in the night. The effect was dramatic, to say the least! Leslie looked like the picture of health and happiness, radiant with life and joy. She is a natural model.

Today, I made fresh juice and blueberry pancakes for David's breakfast, and then he asked me to shoot some hoops with him. We also took a drive to the county clerk's office to renew David's passport, because (drum roll, please) he is going to spend the autumn semester on the Gonzaga program in Italy! We are happy (and thrilled) for him.

Tonight, Gregg barbecued steaks for dinner, and I made rice and quinoa with fennel and bacon, and steamed broccoli to go with it. The guys are out playing basketball right now. The sun is setting, the sky is baby blue, pink and gray, the Sound is calm in front of our house...and it is a Good Friday, indeed.