Semester Celebration-Maru Izakaya

We continued our adored tradition of going out to dinner after the happy completion of another semester. It works out well that all of us love one restaurant where everyone can find something they enjoy eating.

As we sipped our lychee tea and chose our food, we talked about the last semester. The big question this time was, what have we each learned about ourselves over these last months.

I won't share the specific answers because each person was deeply honest and vulnerable. I will share how full it makes my heart to have these 4 people I trust so deeply and who care for each other so lovingly. There's no competition between them, no sense that that the other people want anything for you but joy and a feeling of success. We're not magic and people certainly get annoyed with each other, but the delight of gathering around a table to share ideas and insights...such joy. To have adult children who we can count on to help us continue to grow and learn, and that we so enjoy spending time with, is a timeless gift.

I've grown to think of this as "our table." It's tucked back in a corner so our laughter doesn't disturb other people, and it stays quiet for us so we can hear each other.

After our delicious dinner, we made our way to The Unreliable Narrator where Monkey and I conspired with the person working to have a secret stash of gifts for other people. Monkey was using the gift card her Vermont grandparents gave her for Christmas to buy presents for other people, which is just her style.

It was snowy and cold, and the perfect night for wrapping up their semester.

No matter where people are going to school next year; at home or away, I hope we can continue this tradition as long as anyone is still in school. Having the gift of time to sit and focus on each other is a treat of which I will never tire.