Back to Life, Back to Reality

Matty and I are back from a long weekend in New Orleans, our "babymoon," as it's now known by those much hipper than we are. I was actually there to "work," or at least "network," which I'm not very good at. The event was the annual conference of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, or IACP. I did meet some editors and make some good contacts, so hopefully I'll get some work out of it.

Of course, it was wonderful to get away for a few days on our own, and of course, we missed the boys terribly. There were reminders of them everywhere: the Pyratecon convention in the French Quarter, which translated into hundreds of pirates (they really seemed to think they were pirates) wandering the streets at all times of day; the aquarium right next to the conference hotel; the streetcars and horse-n-buggies we knew the kids would love.

Perhaps one day we'll return with kids in tow, but for this weekend, it was nice to remember what we were like as a couple, not just as parents. Because, let's face it, once you have kids, they redefine and ultimately define your life. That's not necessarily a bad thing. But being alone with Matty this weekend, just thinking about ourselves for a change, made me remember our life before kids. It made me realize how fortunate we were to have those 7 years together, and how important that time alone was.

I know that in the blink of an eye we'll be alone again, with the kids away at school and then starting their own lives. And we'll discover each another anew, and remember all the wonderful things we like to do together (that don't revolve around animals or French fries). But until then, it was nice to have a window both into our past, and into that future.

Now, back to the trenches...