18 — North Shore News — Wednesday, August 9, 2000 livinarcom Crazy From page Vi Everyone grows up and you‘re the one dishing out the trite lines to younger moms. T suppose I should con- fess at this point that [ am experiencing vet another new psychological condi- tion. 1 think they call this one “empty nest syndrome.” It’s the result of a couple of things, actually, First of ail, P've moved out of the family home and inte a smaller house, and my kids are now splitting their time between the old house, into which my first husband has moved, and my new house. Secondly, both my boys are going away to school tn September. What this means is that what | wished for desperate- Brazilian Beat August 18 Come and OIE EE BNE PEER TTS OT times with kids pass in a flash ly when my kids were little I now have in abundance. Time in my home alone. Freedom to come and go as [ chose. Fewer mouths to feed, less housework to do, only one bum to wipe. Come September, there'll be even more of that. You'd think I'd be delighted with my new lite, but P'm miserable. “You'll get over it,” my own mother advised me with a wave of her hand when I told her about my sadness at the coming changes in my life. Easy for her to say. She had an “afterthought” to take care of when my older brother and I grew up. My little brother was 10 years younger than me and lived at home until just a couple of years ago. Truth be known, he only just geew up Jast month when he got married. Even so, | believe he still has his blankie, although P'm not sure his new wife knows about it. Anyway, I suppose [ know somewhere deep down that she’s right, but I miss the chaos of my old life. I miss the kids piled around me for a story at night, all bathed and pow- Solid Hide — or — Semi Transparent eck Stain 06301, 06303, 06304 Sotid Hide Acrylic (Water Base) dered in flanne! PJs. I miss the hokey school plays, the smell of play dough, the forts, the laughter, and the secret snuggles with my youngest boy so the other kids wouldn't think he was still a baby. I miss the stuffed animal parades, the impromptu naps on my shoulder, the Lego all over the floors, and the security of having my kids around me most of the time. Now, not only are my kids not around me most of the time, most of the time I have no idea where they are. I don’t like it one little bit. Of course, | am, comfort- ably, quietly ensconced in my little office here as 1 write. Not once has an impa- tient teen barged in on me to demand use of the com- puter for some asinine war game. There hasn’t been one fight here since 1 moved in, unless you call the mirthful tousle of my two old pups over a soggy tennis ball a fight. And it is reassuring to know that my youngest son is coming home here tonight (he’s worried about me ocing lonely), and my oldest son will be home tomorrow from his weekend trip to the Okanagan. My daughter is on another plan- et until the end of the sum- mer. It’s actually very peace- ful. Enjoyable, even. Hmmm ... now that ’'m finished this column, I think ll just mosey out to the deck, pour myself a glass of wine and read a little of the paper. You know, a gal could get used to this .... BVCLOVER DALE PAINT SALE ENDS SEPTEMBER: Selid Hide — or — Sem! Transparent Wood Stain - 066 Series Solid Hide Acrytic (Water Base), 161 Series Stomp Your Feet! Sunday, August 13 2pm to 4pm The much anticipated Ache Brazil! Exotic, energetic and colourful. An astonishing display of acrobatics performed to the hypnotic South American rhythms of a Brazilian beat. or 16605, 16603 Semi Trensparent Ort Base 088 3.78: LITRES Savor searorareroesesconnereesess All Instock Wallpaper , & Bor eTS...| Instock watipzper only. While quantities last, Selection may vary at each location. - Gpen 7 Days a Week Daily 9:3Gam-6:30pm Friday 9:30am-9:00pm Restaurants stay open after Market closing. _ Parking is FREE every weekend _ and hotidays. www.lonsdalequay.com TALSINS Tel. (604) 985-6261 Yijz22 500 123 Carrie Cates Court at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue @ in North Vancouver Port Coquitlam Store 2748 Lougheed Hwy. Port Coquitlam, BC 941-6748 Check Your Yellow Page: for the Store Nearest You. B8zraaby Store 8190 Winston Street Burnaby, BC 421-8299 (No Wallpaper) Richmond Store 4411 No. 3 Road North Vancouver Store 1629 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver, BC 985-0823 Broadway Store 1852 West Broadway Vancouver, BC 731-5858 Marine Drive Store 222 SW Marine Drive Terminal Avenue Store 225 Terminal Avenue Vancouver, BC Vancouver, BC Richmond, BC 689-4414 321-2216 273-9178 Feo fee Enronmation: Cloverdale Paint ts 3 member of the Biitih Columbia Paint Care As jocat sociation which enables governments and new paint waste to dispose of it in a safe manner. In keeping with the practices of 90% af the BC paint industry a nominal fer new paint purchased 2, help fund deiignated collection sites. The ECa FEE averages SOt pet 3.78 litres and is added to the purchase price at time to cotlect seumdsted ft fom cheiged on of tale.