Meeting and Parting

I thought I was talking to my granddaughter about something that would make her happy. I told her, "is it not great that we get to spend fifty days together?". I did not expect her reaction. She immediately put her hands over her ears, refusing to hear, and raised her voice and said: "do not remind me that you will be leaving"! My son had mentioned that he wanted us here at his house for three months. Both he and his wife work. His three children, especially his little girl, are in need of our help in taking care of them too. For several reasons, it was difficult for us to go along with his wish. Noor, my granddaughter, does not just live with us in the moment that we are in. Her charming eyes brim with both joy and sadness. I do not want to talk today about the moment of our departure. I can only imagine what will happen. I am writing these lines about myself and those of you who are like me. Nothing is more difficult than seeing that your child wants something that you cannot provide. However, this is life. Life is all about meeting and parting!