backyard

Dane is headed to Germany next week for a study abroad program and will be gone for six weeks, and suddenly I think I understand what it’s going to feel like when my own kids leave home. He has become so much a part of this family, so very close to my kids and my dogs, so helpful and generous. I know it’s only six weeks, but during that time Marlo is going to ask very earnestly, “Where’sth Dane?” because she wants to go and make up games with him in the backyard. And since she has no concept of time, since she thinks two minutes is two hours, I’ll just say, “Soon.” And we’ll sit there and miss him together.