How Strange

How strange
That as I write this post
All my children's friends in China
Are on the school bus for their first day of school
(And many of my friends too, come to think of it)

And we are still here
In full-fledged Prosser summer

Swimming in Grandma's pool
With the cousins,
Picking out flooring for our new house

And not packing up,
Cramming consumables into duffle bags,
Not loading airport-bound cars,
Not making last-minute trips to Costco
For one more 10-pound bag of chocolate chips,
Not kissing anyone goodbye, or saying
"See you next summer."

We're still here --
How strange.