Milestones

During the course of our lives we pass milestones that signify moments of passage.  Weddings, births, baptisms, graduations, divorce, deaths and first experiences such as sex, travel, accomplishments, failures.  These are some of the milestones in our lives we experience.

I just passed a milestone in my life last week.  My eldest child, Diane who is 28 years old, and my youngest child, Alex who is 22 years old, came to visit me in Jakarta.  I asked them to spend a week with me here.  The purpose of my invitation was to let them know that I was already living with someone else here.  I hoped it would not be much of a shock to them because last year I hinted at how my relationship with their mother was turning sour.  However they had no idea of my intentions until I told them upon their arrival on Jakarta.

On their arrival on the way home from the airport, I told them I was living with someone else.  There was a deafening silence in the car after I told them.  The news must have shocked them.  I asked them what they thought of it and they were at a loss for words and just shrugged.  I was half expecting Diane to be upset about it and get mad.  But they just kept silent.

Things were a bit awkward when we got home and they finally met my partner.