Peace and Quiet

Yesterday my parents left for the Holy Land. Its a fundraising trip done through their church and led by Mnsgr. Connolly who is probably the most interesting holy person you will ever meet. I am thrilled that they are going. It will be a life changing trip. Hopefully one that will lead my parents into a life of charity where they give all their wordly possessions to their children and just roam from san diego to pasadena to morgan hill volunteering and babysitting their grandchildren.

It is completely bizarre not being able to call my parents. I am not ashamed to admit that I call them every day and all day long. Most of the time I am just checking in. But I also call to ask which paper towel brand is the best or which college Josie should go to. I know my other sisters call in similar increments for similar reasons. My brother Teddy calls on occasion. My brother CJ only calls if he is in the ER and forgets his blood type. But I am sure all of us can feel in some way that my parents are out of the country.

My mom was supposed to email when she got there. I haven't heard from her. In some ways I feel like an angry parent whose teenage daughter is 5 hours late for curfew. But they are my parents, they are more than capable of taking care of themselves. But really, it would have been nice if my mom responded to the email about if I should take Owen to the ER because he is limping for no reason. Its been 24 hours with no response and Owen already stopped limping. Where was she to help me through this horrible ordeal?

Hopefully she is resting and praying and learning. Enjoying the silence. Silence that isn't constantly interrupted by the hip rap song she accidentally selected as her ring tone. The one she is too busy to change because I keep calling to ask how to make pasta and beans.

No matter what my parents see or what my parents experience, I know for a fact it will be a very holy trip. Because my parets will have no choice but to focus on themselves and each other. It will bring them closer to God and closer to an inner peace that they lost somewhere in the chaos of raising 5 children who for some reason won't leave them alone.

I hate that I can't call my mom for 10 days. I hate that I have to make decisions on my own. I hate that I already know what she would say without having to even call her. But I love that she doesn't have to answer the phone, or help me make decisions or roll her eyes as she answer questions that are painfully obvious. And most of all I love that my parents are finally getting some peace and quiet, even if they had to go all the way to the holy land to get it.