alone at last

because my children were spaced out pretty severely when they were born......wait, let me try that again.  my five children were born over almost 20 years; and therefore, the intervals, or spaces between them, were mostly pretty long.  during all of their growth and development i would hear other women talk about the fact that when all of their children were in school they would be alone for five or so hours a day.  that sounded pretty good to me. 

well, the older four have gone and left me alone (just as they got nice to be around, i might add).  BUT ("everybody has a big BUT" - pee wee herman) my youngest, who is 18, has down syndrome, which makes her 18 going on 11 some days, 18 going on 30 some days, and 18 going on 4 other days.  i decided when she was supposed to go to middle school that the middle school atmosphere was not one which would provide her with the safety and emotional security that a mother might hope for (snark!).  so she has been home with me since then (about four years).  this basically makes her my life buddy. 

she is a wonderful companion, helpful and happy and loving.   but i am never n.e.v.e.r. alone.  so i invented the daddy-daughter date tradition.  okay, okay, so i didn't invent it.  but i have encouraged it and am now a master at making my husband feel like a mean father if he objects.  they have gone to see "avatar" in 3D tonight.  (two birds with one stone: now i don't have to see avatar.)

i will play spider solitaire, listen to my music as loud as i want and even sing out loud and dance with no one standing around being not amused, watch sense and sensibility (with emma thompson and hugh grant, the amazing life-sized marionette) without receiving any flack, eat whatever i want, even popcorn.  what would or what do YOU do with three hours of alone time?