Stretching the heartstrings

From the Heart

The heartstrings of a mother stretch to wherever her children go. Mine just stretched a bit farther than I ever expected.

It’s Friday night about 11:00 and I just got a text from Emily. “We are just south of Nashville, Tennessee.” By mid-morning on Saturday they should arrive in Tampa . . . their new home.

Emily, Drew, Aiden and Leah headed out of the driveway about 5:00. The kids were told it would take about 16 hours to arrive where they would then call home. They have no idea how long 16 hours in a loaded down SUV can be. Neither can Emily and Drew. They have never taken a road trip. Not one.

Aiden is almost seven and Leah is 4 1/2. They really do not fully understand that they will be so far away from their friends and their Grandma Janet.

Aiden hugged his best friend, Cooper and said, “I’m sure going to miss you man” as they said their goodbyes a few days earlier. Let’s just say Cooper and Aiden might have noticed their moms had leaking eyes.

I’ve had a few moments where I found it difficult to wrap my mind, as well as my heart, around not being able to call Emily and meet for coffee on a moment’s notice. I call it the “empty hurt” when your heart just doesn’t understand what it is feeling. It just feels lost and empty.

On Friday, a few hours before they left, Emily called and asked me to go to Target with her. We laughed as she told me I was getting old because I did not want to take the interstate. I handed her the keys and said, “You drive and one day you will be old and you won’t want to take the interstate.”

As we went through the drive thru at Culver’s she realized she had forgotten her debit card. Of course, Mom to the rescue. I’m going to miss those rescues.

We got back to her house and I saw their SUV packed and ready to go. It honestly looked like a scene from the Chevy Chase “Vacation” movie. Suitcases, bags, car seats and their summer clothes were tucked into the SUV. A small trailer basket was attached with more bags and stuff. The moving van will come later when their house, in Fishers, sells.

Totes for Leah and Aiden were filled with things to occupy them for the LONG drive. Friends had supplied them well with snacks.

I got a text about 6:00 p.m. from Emily that they were just south of Greenwood and Aiden asked how many more hours they would be driving.

Like I said, it’s going to be a long trip. I imagine Emily will hear a few “Are we there yet?”

If she looks in her rear view mirror she might notice a few strings also attached to the trailer. Those heartstrings will always follow her . . . wherever she goes.