The Band Plays On: Beyond the Empty Nest
For those of us who struggle to keep singing after the kids are grown and gone.
Music danced in my head for 20+ years.
Melodies swirled in my mind and swept me off my feet while song lyrics filled my home and fed my soul.
The familiar tracks varied from year to year.
- Babies crying.
- Siblings fighting.
- Crowds roaring and friends calling.
Gradually and without warning, the music faded. The musicians peeled away, until one by one they disappeared for good.
- To blaze their own trails.
- Stake their own claims.
- Live their own lives and create their own music.
The voices whisper from a distance — sometimes so faint I can barely hear it anymore.
I still listen for it. Keep my ears to the ground and wait for those faraway songs to include me, to invite me back in.
- A phone call.
- A visit.
- Thank, God for holiday gatherings.
The slightest connection fills me up and renews my energy to days gone by — to when my house resonated with joy and laughter.