On our way to pick up our son from his first year of college, I realized that this fall, in just a few short months, our daughter will begin applying to colleges as well. This time next year, she will be a high school graduate. When I celebrate my 50th birthday next September, both of our kids will be gone from our house, and my husband and I will be rattling around this place by ourselves.
It used to be that I craved the days when our kids would be bigger and I’d have more time to myself. Now, as they have their own lives, and my day-time grows longer, my life-time grows shorter. I think a lot about this now, about how this is my one precious life (that I’m aware of). All those wishes, all those things I think would be cool to do, now is the time to do them instead of just daydream about them.
Like having a convertible again. My first car was a convertible VW beetle, and despite it being out of my life for more than 30 years now, my bug still makes me happy. I feel stupidly lucky to have had that car in my life. I remain attached to it, it’s bright happy color, its personality, its easy access to sunshine over my head. Convertibles make me feel free and alive. So when we started thinking about getting a second car for my husband and me (we share a very pragmatic Suburu), and we daydreamed about what we would want, we both wanted something sporty, and I really wanted a convertible. My husband spent weeks researching and locating options, and the weekend we picked our son up from college, we also went to test drive a few sports cars.
And we got one. A little used Mazda roadster, a beautiful coppery red, with black and tan interior, and a black convertible top that you can put up and down in less than 30 seconds. Sometimes after work, when I want a little empty-my-mind time, I’ll grab the Miata key, put the top down, and just take it for an evening drive in the fresh mountain air.
I’m trying to do more of what fulfills me these days, and less of what drains me. We’re focusing a lot in our family on experiences, whether that’s through trips and travel, or through material purchases that are bigger than themselves in that they create opportunities for joy rather than just being something to possess. Having not given much thought to it until I saw this writing prompt in my blog dashboard, I think that’s the legacy I want to leave our kids: a zest for life and living.
Butterfly Mind 
That is a wonderful legacy to leave!
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Solid plan, Andrea! Along for the ride!
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