The Part Time Empty Nest Syndrome

My neighbor met me at the end of my driveway when I went out to pick up my newspaper.

"Notice anything?" she asked, sweeping her arms around herself.  "No kids."

After home-schooling for six years, all four of her kids are now in public schools, two of them for the first time.  She chattered on and on about all the things she was going to do with her free time.

"You're a little giddy, aren't you? I said.

"I drank a Pepsi WITH caffeine," she laughed.

We parted.  I went home and fetched what I thought was an appropriate gift for Part Time Empty Nest Syndrome and took it to her.

Chocolate and a good book.  A really good book.