The people across the road had the grandparents stay with them this summer. I'm not exactly sure how long they stayed. We didn't pay much attention to them because nobody from that side ever said hello.
Then, one day the kids decided to play together. By necessity we had to become acquainted. Still, the old folks were strange. One day the old lady was outside sweeping the gravel driveway. The asphalt had not even been put down yet.
Today, the girls were playing and that's when we found out that tomorrow is their last day. They're going home to China. We just assumed they lived here. The kids don't really get it. You can tell that for them it won't sink in until they don't see the old folks pattering about in a couple of days.
For us, it will have an impact, too. It will mean that the kids won't be outside as much. It will mean that my girl won't see her friends as much. That's what happens when people get older. You notice them less when they are around and when they are gone they leave this void that never gets filled up again no matter how much you try to move on. Somehow, with each day you know they are gone.
My grandparents are gone in a different way, I know what to expect. My kid is spared that for the moment. The best part of oblivion is truly being able to enjoy today and not care about the next moment, day, week, year. You can't really do that once you know and are old enough to care.
