My dear husband left on June 24 for a journey abroad, and returned on August 15. How I missed him! Oh, yes, I kept busy in the backyard projects. Yes, I had fun with the grandchildren. Yes, I enjoyed my “freedom” every day to do as I pleased, when I pleased, to eat out if I liked, or not to eat at all. BUT, I missed him every day. I missed his company, his laughter, and his boundless energy.

My dear husband made his first trip to China in 1986! That year, there were no accessible phones in most of rural China. We had NO communication for about six weeks. It was extremely difficult. This year, we had the “miracle” of SKYPE, on which we could talk almost every day, and see each other while doing so. What an amazing world we live in these days. When the fence was complete, I took my laptop outside and walked around the yard, showing him the fence. I still marvel at this.

In 1986, almost as soon as Dear Husband left, the car broke down, followed by the washing machine. Then we had an intruder break into the house one evening while we were gone. Another night, very late, we heard a lot of noise outside, and our dogs barked wildly. I called the sheriff because I was scared. He came out and said he thought perhaps a large animal such as a bear had caused the dogs to bark. I gather he thought this was a comfort to me. The next morning, I looked around and saw evidence of a person: some wrappers and little ketchup packets from McDonald’s in my driveway. I was glad I had the dogs outside. I brought the dogs inside, but they weren’t trained for inside and made life more difficult, so I put them back outside.

This year, I have no dog, and I live in a city, small, but a city nonetheless. Some say we live in a “bad” neighborhood, but I’m happy to have neighbors. Since we live close to the hospitals, we hear sirens nearly every day, but in general, it is a quiet neighborhood.

In 1986, I was still quite young, though I didn’t think so at the time, and the eight week absence seemed like forever. This year, the seven weeks seemed fairly short. The older we get, the faster time seems to race by. Back then I had the children to consider and I feared for them when we had the break-in. This year, one of those same children, now an adult, feared for me. I must say my “children” looked out for me and took care of me by calling, e-mailing, coming over, and inviting me their homes.

It’s been a wonderful summer, and there is still some summer left. I’m so glad Dear Husband is now home to share it with me.