Looking out my Backdoor: When retreat means moving forward

Two weeks. What a gift. I have had two weeks with my son at my home.

My guestroom with bath was finished before Ben’s plane landed.

He said, “Mom, I don’t want to do a lot of visiting neighbors (of whom there are so few) or any tourist stuff. I just want to be with you and to have solitude to consider my life, to figure out what I want to do next. I want a retreat, away from everyday activities and responsibilities.”

And so it went.

We filled each day with stories, memories, with unhurried hours of solitude for both of us, favorite meals, jig-saw puzzles, no stress and plain...