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Roasted Tomatoes and An Empty Nest

  

Roasted Tomatoes and Focaccia

     We are in the sunset days of child-rearing. Our daughter is now a busy senior in high school, with a part-time job and driver’s license. Often, there is one less face at the table, one last voice to talk about the day.

    Our meals are simpler now as we no longer have to prepare healthy meals to fill a growing body. As my husband and I sit alone at the table we realize our work now is to reconnect with another, make our way back to each other. Back to the days before daughter came into our lives and the hours of our days were filled with feeding and nurturing her.

    Now we turn towards nursing our aging bodies which, as it turns out, need much less food than growing bodies. We are moving away from large meals. Often, I place simple meals on the dinner table along with small glasses of wine to remind us that now we can fully sink back into the early days of our marriage.

    Only it isn’t like those early days either. Those days when we didn’t have a child but were always rushing to meet the next goal. Days filled with work, nights filled with parties and events. There was such a feeling of hustle in those days, a constant desire to do more....

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Comments

  1. Dana BarbieriSeptember 1, 2022 at 2:58 PM

    Stop! I could've written something very similar and reading this makes me want to cry. Your simple meal sounds delightful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laura BrayOctober 29, 2022 at 12:37 PM

      Sorry! It's hard being on the brink of an empty nest, isn't it?

      Delete
  2. Nicole MacPhersonSeptember 2, 2022 at 4:15 AM

    WELL. I'm all teared up! This spoke to me so much. We are in the same place, Laura, the exact same place. Youngest is a senior in high school, and I am having the same feelings exactly. I don't know how you perfectly capture my soul but you sure do. This is just gorgeous. Thank you. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laura BrayOctober 29, 2022 at 12:37 PM

      You always seem to capture my soul as well Nicole.

      Delete
  3. MG Doodle StudioSeptember 2, 2022 at 11:43 AM

    You described your tomato dish so vividly; I can nearly taste it! There's not much better than a tomato from your own garden. My favorite simple meal at the moment is anything that doesn't need to be cooked. It's too hot to cook right now. Cheese & crackers with a cup of yogurt is perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Heather VoSeptember 2, 2022 at 3:49 PM

    What a truly beautiful post. ❤️❤️❤️

    ReplyDelete
  5. TrishSeptember 2, 2022 at 5:22 PM

    You are not only an amazing person and great friend, but your writing always goes straight to my heart. I remember well our conversations when you first tested positive. What a reward to both of our lives and your entire family. O has captured my heart from the beginning. You are Bruce have proven to be the best parents she could have had. I love your family and enjoy reading about your accomplishments Hope to someday make it up to visit the Bray household. Always wishing the Best life has to offer. Sincerely, Trish xxxooo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laura BrayOctober 29, 2022 at 12:38 PM

      I hope you will come and visit soon Trish. Just imagine, Olivia is only a few years younger than I was when I met you!

      Delete
  6. AnonymousSeptember 2, 2022 at 5:49 PM

    You are such a gifted writer.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Michele FawcettSeptember 3, 2022 at 11:03 AM

    Such a beautiful post Laura! My favorite simple meal lately has been BLT's with garden fresh tomatoes and whole grain bread.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anne ButeraSeptember 8, 2022 at 8:37 AM

    So beautiful, Laura. I've somehow missed your last few posts. Lovely to catch up.

    Simple garden meals are always my favorite, too. And food prepared and eaten together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laura BrayOctober 29, 2022 at 12:39 PM

      It's really the company more than the food, right?

      Delete
  9. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2022 at 9:08 AM

    Yes, I'm guessing you'll be "just fine" too. This is a lovely bit of writing Laura. Thank you for sharing it with us. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2022 at 9:08 AM

      (this comment was from KarenLR)

      Delete
    2. Aleta JacobsonOctober 7, 2022 at 4:44 PM

      "No, now we realize when our daughter moves out, we cannot go back. Parenting and the past eighteen years has changed us. We are surprised by how mellow we have become. How our marriage has smoothed out, much like driftwood that has had wave after wave flow over and around it, until it is soft and beautiful, nothing like the rough wood that fell into the sea many years ago."

      This passage brought me to tears. This post is moving prose.
      The smoothed out, driftwood and wave after wave flow, is breathtaking. I want to read your book.

      Delete
    3. Laura BrayOctober 29, 2022 at 12:40 PM

      Thank you so much Aleta. I feel all kinds of special that you pulled a quote from my writing.

      Delete
  10. Jonathan FongSeptember 26, 2022 at 9:16 PM

    Laura, I was just thinking of you so I came on to your blog to see what you've been up to. I can't believe your daughter is a senior in high school! Beautifully written post. Sending you love! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laura BrayOctober 29, 2022 at 12:40 PM

      Olivia remembers you fondly Jonathan. It seems like she was a little girl only yesterday.

      Delete
  11. AnonymousSeptember 29, 2022 at 5:00 PM

    Oh Laura, What a beautiful post. I am so taken by the paragraph that starts, "No, now we realize..." this is prose. I was moved to tears. So wonderfully written. 💛

    ReplyDelete

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