The Room

She followed me wearily down the hallway after the 7 hour drive home to spend the weekend with us...I was so excited for her to see the haven I had created for her for when she returned...Turquoise walls, billowy curtains, seashells everywhere, paintings of mermaids and beach scenes....  Well, it actually is supposed to be my get-away room, but it has turned into the place that I go to sit and remember the child that suddenly grew up and left to begin her own adult life...the place that I go to reflect on her childhood and how much I miss those days ...I don't even know why I still call it "her room."  In my mind, it's as if she is still away at college and will be home soon for another whirlwind weekend... she will always be back.  I realized this week after one of my sessions in there that she has a home of her own now, and this room will be a place she stays when she visits.
Visits.  That word is hard to swallow.
I opened the door and asked her, " Well, what do you think?"
She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, " It's beautiful.  I'm so glad to be home.  I love it. "
I was so happy that she loved the room.  So glad that it is no longer empty as it has been since January.
So glad to have her home.  And so looking forward to our "visit."  I guess I will have to get used to that word for now.
And Monday night, after she leaves, I am sure I will go in the room and cry and wonder where the time has gone, and miss her, and plan the next "visit."