Flying Solo

It’s October.  October 4^th, to be exact.  I can barely believe it.  October means I’ve been gone for eight months now.  October also means that Mouse has been away from me for a full month, leaving me to continue this Aussie experience solo.  There are moments, even entire days, when I miss him so acutely it hurts.  These are the times I ache for him and wish with every bit of my being that he could magically appear, even if only for a moment.  After living together for so many years and being a part of each other’s everyday lives, it’s strange to wake up to an empty bed and come home to a silent house.  I miss his smell.  I miss his voice.  I miss all the intimate details that are so easily taken for granted when you’re with a person day in and day out.  But then I have good days.  These are the days when the loneliness dulls, allowing the rest of my life to brighten.  These are the days when I can appreciate my surroundings and see the value in having this time to myself.  These are the days when I truly feel happy.  My time in Oz won’t last forever, and neither will our separation.  Soon enough, life will return to normal and all of this will become a faded memory.  In the meantime, I need to be mindful to be thankful for the present and all of the amazing experiences it's providing, despite his absence.  Because, believe me, I am having fun.