Wednesday with my Youngest Child

I spent today with my son, Arthur. It was wonderful to get to spend time together. Since he returned from Afghanistan and began working we don't have as much time to do things as we used to. It's fascinating to get to know the man he has become after all of these years of knowing him as a child. Spending time in a war zone changes people, gives them new ways of seeing and thinking about things. 
We went to the Mediterranean Market today to shop for food that the local grocery stores just don't carry. Following that, we went down the street to the nearby Halal Market. We found foods today that we haven't been able to find since moving from Houston years ago. It's nice to have little grocery stores that carry unique products.
It was great to find dried spearmint in bulk to make tea with. The heat has killed off my mint plants this year, and there's really nothing else like a glass of iced mint tea when I'm relaxing after getting my housework done.
Before Arthur went to work this evening I made Barbeque chicken, baked beans and sweet potatoes for dinner. All one color on the plate, but it tasted good.
I'm happy that Arthur decided to settle here in the city when he returned from overseas. I had sold our old house while he was gone, closing on the sale the day before wildfires roared through the area last August. We found an apartment about 3 miles away for him. He loves it because best buy is a block away, Barnes and Noble bookstore is across the street and there are half a dozen fast food places within a few blocks. All of the comforts of bachelorhood, just the way he likes it.
It's great having one of my children close by, after raising children for 30 years, I am ready for them to be grown and enjoying their lives. But it's so nice to have family near enough to get together for holidays or even just an afternoon from time to time.
Raising children was a special time for me, I had so much fun taking babies and spending the years helping them grow into adulthood. There were a lot of great memories made.