Nine Minutes.

A month ago I lived 9 minutes from the beach. I’m not even talking as the crow flies. I could drive to the beach, including the single stop light along the way, in nine minutes. On the way, I drove by my son’s elementary school, my YMCA, the Mystic Aquarium and the kids’ favorite restaurant.

In nine minutes, Pop could be at our table for dinner, provided he didn’t have to stop for wine. In nine minutes, Scott & I could both be at our respective jobs as long as I didn’t need to stop for coffee.

Now in nine minutes, Noah can put on his boots, hat, mittens and coat, get outside, run over to Gramma’s, collect the things we need from her fridge (it was ketchup and mustard for their hot dogs) and run back.

Now in nine minutes, Gina & I can be in the gym warming up for Zumba! And Sammy can be jumping out of Scott’s car and running into school before Scott drives around the corner to work. In nine minutes, we can walk in full snow gear to the sledding hill and be on our first run.

At 36, I am truly realizing that life is long and unpredictable. I have so much to be grateful for.

There are some cousins that the boys will see more now and some we'll be meeting at the beach. We get vacations at Pop's (yes, John, that is a warning). We get to breakfast at Gramma's without putting our shoes on (in the summer) and who doesn't want to see Gina every day. We get to breeze into the Buffalo Zoo any time for a quick 45 minute visit instead of the Mystic Seaport or Aquarium. Wegman's does blow the pants off McQuades.

The now and then/pros and cons list goes on and on and on. This is a wonderful and fun, challenging and sad time. I embrace the esteemed words of Calvin, owner of Hobbes, not 16^th c. theologian:

I suppose the secret to happiness is learning to appreciate the moment.