We sat in the car.
We waited for a moment for the air conditioner to dissipate the humidity clinging to us like cotton candy blankets.
We looked at each other and at the dark house we had just left.
It had been a long, long drive from Phoenix to San Antonio, but seeing our son had made the butt numbing miles well worth the effort.
We'd had a fun day, laughing and visiting, and now we were getting ready to drive back to our hotel.
We sat in the dark for a moment, and I told Mr. Jenny that it felt sad when there was no-one waving goodbye.
Of course we had all hugged inside after we had made our plans for the next day...
...but...
My husband and I have a custom of standing outside and waving goodbye to our kids when they leave from any family gathering. I've been known to run down the street waving goodbye and shouting, "I love you," as their vehicles grew smaller in the distance.
I'm sure our neighbors think we're crazy, but I don't care.
You never know what might happen.
You never know if you will see someone you love again.
In the quiet, dark interior of the car, Mr. Jenny took my hand. I held onto his tightly...or perhaps I should say our hands stuck together. The humidity in Texas is pretty foreign to us desert dwellers.
We looked sadly at each other for a moment, and then he started to back out of the driveway.
Just as he did, a glorious spill of light came from the now open doorway of our son's house.
There he was silhouetted in the glow from inside!
He ran quickly out to the middle of the yard and jumped up on a large, landscaping rock.
"Goodbye! Goodbye!" he yelled. "See you tomorrow! I love you!"
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36 comments:
that is so awesome Jenny! what a sweet story. he knew exactly what to do!
have a great day
xoxo
vivian
How sweet and the tradition continues.
You are so right about "anything" could happen. "I love you" are always the last words out of my mouth when any of the kids leave. Even the ones who live 10 minutes away. Lovely story!
Awwww, I do the same thing! We stand and wave until they drive out of sight! It just warms my heart that they do what we do:) Have a blessed day my friend, HUGS!
Oh my, that is exactly the way we do it! I'm the crazy one too that is out running behind the car! Precious post Miss Jenny!
Another one here who runs down the driveway, waving, until the car is out of sight.
Lovely that your son remembered and carries on your sweet tradition.
Humidity? Up here that is a winter thing and we're never hot, but we may get moldy.
You surely must have treasured that moment!
We always include "drive safely" when family & friends leave after a visit.
Have a good day and wherever you go - drive safely!
:o)
Those departing waves are important and precious....I'm glad you got such an enthusiastic one to send you on your way.
Hey Sweet lady,
This just goes to show that the peach doesn't fall far from the pit, or is it the fruit isn't quite in the bowl, or......oh I don't remember the saying. Anyhoo, you are an amazing woman/mother/lady/friend and you did a marvelous job with your son.
I love ya'
Meri
I L.O.V.E. that!! That's how I feel every time I leave my family behind...
We run to the front steps and wave from there.
Sniff! {{waving}}
I like the wave, too.
(I'm glad he remembered.)
=D
How sweet of your son, Jenny. You know, I always stand and wave from my porch too, until my kids or grandkids drive away down the drive.... and they all live so close, within walking distance actually. It's a caring thing to do.
so sweet.
good boy, that one.
Aw Jenny you say it best and oh so true! I just kissed my oldest girl goodbye as she boarded a plane and I'm waiting for my flight now. Hugs, Linda
I figured I was one of the only ones that made a big deal out of standing outside and doing the goodbye thing. I'm thrilled to know you do it, too. Glad your son took the time to do it right. Little things DO make a difference.
Bet you were glad to be out of this humidity!!!
Snif...snif...yup that is wonderful....my sons and me and my husband never leave without a hug and a "I love you"....and we never get off the phone without a " I love you" either! After having lost my dear dear friend last yer, I know that he knew without a doubt that we all loved him and I felt his love every time he looked at me..a lot can go wrong, but as long as there are people that really love you, you can manage. Don't you think? Love you! Sandy
That's so lovely. I do that waving down the street thing when my kids have been to visit. I know exactly what you mean.
Sounds like the best family tradition ever. I'm going to start. XO.
I just found your blog and this was lovely. I have memories of my mother always waving to me as I walked to school as a child, drove off to college as I got older, or got back on a plane to fly home once I was married. I will never forget how she wouldn't leave until I had pulled off the street. SO I totally understand this. And I love your writing. Beautiful
Ya, me and mine do too cause ya, you never know....
Stay safe my friend:)
Awesome to the max. My parents never had memorable goodbyes, no hugs, no I love you's...very proper....so I appreciate reading your traditions. for my son, somehow I started calling him "Snookums" and that is my traditional loud hello and goodbye thru my tears. My daughter and grandkids are not the hugging type so the waves and me screaming "I love you" til they are out of sight...on the road or to an airplane. None of this was planned
but evolved as I did from stiff upper lip to sobbing and hugging.
Enjoyed reading your post.
Peace,
Siggi in Downeast Maine
PS...Mr Jenny is a keeper for sure.
Lovely post. This brought a tear to my eye. Most of our kids live far away. Goodbyes are hard.
Heartwarming story
Just like you, I don't want to leave the driveway until the tail lights are long gone.
How sweet of your son to come waving.
Like you, I stand at the top of our run in and wave/watch visitors out of sight. On train platforms, I wait until the train rolls away and wave as they slowly disappear. In the mornings, I watch Ben as he disappears round the side of our house on his bike. "I love you" is an oft spoken phrase :)
We get humidity, but not those kinds of temperatures!
Whew, ya had me worried there for awhile. There IS hope for this generation after all!
Yep, I stand there like a wavin' fool and 'till I have to support my hand like Granny Clampett!!! Heeehehehe!
God bless and I'm just trilled ya'll have had a great visit! :o)
Rod's mum and dad used to do the same thing. I can still see her, standing in the driveway, wearing lounging pajamas, holding a glass of wine, and waving to us. Rod does the same thing, but no lounging pajamas or wine. Oops! I made that sound like he stands and waves naked, but of course he doesn't. Hahahaha!!!
Darn allergies! Making my eyes water.
That was such a sweet thing. A wonderful family tradition...
You sure can tell a story!
You had me so sad and then! and then!!!
Oh, that is SO sweet!!! We do this waving out in the yard....running along the fence...looking like a crazy person too.
xoxo
Oh Jenny,
This made me puddle up cause I do the same thing you do, and that was so great your son did that...........
you are rubbing off, and don't you just love it.
The last time we went to my daughters they walked us out, but then once we were in the car they just shut the garage door before we left, I suspect it might have been her hubby,but I sorta felt the same
thing you did! Funny huh!
but one way I have rubbed off on my daughter is she now sends us home with food.....Love it!!
God is good...........
Love and Blessings to you hon,
Nellie
Jenny, I do the same thing. I stand on the porch, then in the yard, waving and blowing kisses until they go around the corner and are gone.
I know what you mean about waving goodbye. There's something cold about a closed door when you are leaving. I always stay outside and wave until whoever's been visiting has driven away.
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