Higher Elevations

I am anticipating a seismic shift in the earth's geology over the course of the next week as my little corner of the world empties out and the land masses of Europe and Mexico start to buckle beneath the weight of my neighbors. I've already begun to experience a bit of altitude sickness as the early escapees depart and deep dark suburbia rises above sea level.

To be fair, it's not like I'm staying home to singlehandedly keep watch over the deserted deep dark streets; I'm heading to New York and D.C. for a few days to visit family and old friends. Not very exotic, but I expect the company will be excellent and the trip will keep me from wallowing in self pity. My youngest is heading to London with her dad, which sort of gets under my skin in a big way but I'm trying not to let anybody know (so mum's the word). I've asked her to pick me up one of those Kate Middleton style hats so I can wear it when I sit for hours next month watching the royal wedding. I intend to don my Sunday best and pretend I am a guest. I never pass up an opportunity to participate in a fantasy.

Speaking of fantasies, as I sit here now I am staring at the back of my fireman's head. (I think he purposely sits facing away from me because he finds me too distracting. Or maybe he's just grossed out by the drool.) Just as well, though, because last night I officially promised my two friends I would eliminate men of the dating kind from my life and stop depending on them to boost my self-esteem. This time I really really mean it. Frankly, I'm already feeling a bit uplifted, although that could very well be the shifting land masses at work.

My daughter has informed me that her friends are all excited about my impending visit to D.C. I am sure that has nothing to do with free meals, but even if it does, I am excited about seeing them as well. They will all be dispersing in a few months, and this is probably my last chance before graduation day to spend time with the people who have accompanied my daughter on her four year journey to adulthood. They are lively and hopeful and, though they may be slightly nervous about leaving the security of campus life, they know full well that the world is about to become their oyster. I am hoping to soak up some of their optimism.

I will be returning to deep dark suburbia a few days before everyone else does, so I'll have a little time to acclimate to my version of reality (and acclimatize to the newly altitudinous terrain). And as the masses return and we settle back to sea level, I will vow to keep my spirits elevated and bury all cyber dating emails under the rubble of the shifting earth.