Zest- noun \’zest\
: lively quality that increases enjoyment, excitement, or energy.
: small pieces of the skin of a lemon, orange, or lime that are used to flavor food.
Aaahhh… it was my understanding that pursuit of that lively quality was the whole purpose of retirement. To wake up each morning looking forward to learning something new or taking off on impromptu adventures. I should have realized that, where there is zest, there are also lemons. Proverbial bushels of them, in fact, that come raining down when I least expect it. I’m learning that the best way to handle those lemons is to make zest from their acid peels and use that satisfaction to flavor my days.
The barrage of lemons began with the sudden news that Beau was laid off from his brand new job with a boutique fund accounting firm. I guess they were more boutique-ey than financial, because after only two months of employment, they apologetically revealed to Bo a major client was lost and there were not enough funds left for salaries. In true lemony fashion, this was announced the day after Bo had signed a new lease on an apartment, and we were actually on our way up to help him move. I was surprised by my own reaction. For the first time in 28 years of parenting, I was overwhelmed by a desire to punch someone for hurting my kid. A really hard, in the face kind of smack. I was more impressed with Bo. He took the news with somber grace and dignity, immediately set about shooting his resume into etherspace, and then unpacked his boxes of stuff in his new apartment.
Hanging out in his new place and whiling away the hours waiting to hear if any of his resumes were surviving the delete button was pretty lonesome for Bo. He started spending a lot of time at our place, and we quite enjoyed having him around. The more we got to know Young Man Bo, the more I found myself unabashedly marveling to McGator over how well this kid had turned out. Parental devotion aside, we really like this guy!
Bo’s misfortune turned out to be our blessing. McGator herniated a disc maneuvering the kayak, and was laid up for over a month from the pain and subsequent surgery. It sure was nice having Bo taking over the pool and yard maintenance, not to mention having another set of helping hands to drive and hoist McGator in and out of the truck to his doctor appointments. When he wasn’t doing yard work, Bo was walking Pepper for us and then expanded the entourage when Mcgator joined them for recuperative strolls around the block.
Once it was apparent that McGator was on the mend, I took off on Veteran’s Day for a short visit to Mission Mountains to visit my mom where more lemons were waiting for me. Mom had discovered a lump under her arm and was scheduled to have a needle guided biopsy to determine the cause. The news was not good: it turned out to be metastatic lymphoma that had spread from a mole she’d had removed earlier in the spring. Surgery was scheduled to remove her lymph nodes, I canceled my flight home and prepared to spend a quiet Thanksgiving with my mom. My family was disappointed that I wouldn’t be home, but they were very supportive. The youngest, Smac, was flying in from Charlotte for a week, and I chuckled at her anticipation of being in full and sole charge of the dinner. She assigned the guys to smoke the turkey while she set about making the sides, including gorgeous pies. Our dinner up here was pretty nice too- we invited two of Mom’s close friends and my uncle over for traditional stuffed turkey dinner. Our Thanksgiving was complete when our middle child, Juniper, and her husband, Cato, announced they were expecting a baby. The scent of zest was beginning to waft through the air.
Mom’s surgery was set for the second week of December, and deciding it would be unwise for her to travel down to Houston for Christmas, canceled her flight reservations. McGator set about making plans for the family to come up to Montana for Christmas, and fortunately, everybody’s schedules and vacation days permitted them to do so. Bo had been on several job interviews, but I found myself hoping they would fall thru so that nothing would keep him from being able to participate in the family Christmas. His unemployment was turning out to be a blessing for us in many ways. Long story short, tickets were made, suitcases packed, pets housed, flights were taken, and a lovely white Christmas was enjoyed by everyone.
Mom is a trooper and obedient patient, and in spite of not having lymph nodes in her arm, recovery is going very well. It’s almost time McGator’s annual trek up here to do her taxes, so I’m sticking around a few more weeks. I’ll be able to take advantage of my companion pass and fly home for free if I hang on and return with McGator. Bo found a job, McGator has recovered fully, and the cascade of lemons is abating. It’s been a little rough being away from my family for so long, and sometimes thinking about the actual number of days makes me feel insane. That’s when I sit back and take stock of what was actually accomplished here: a family pulling together and accepting the challenge of a crisis, then pooling resources and support to conquer the challenge. And there was no whining. Now that’s zesty.