2024 East Alabama Wedding

T H E W R I T E P U R P O S E
CHRISTY K. TRUITT
I leave open the door.
Every morning I let Hank out in the backyard. My four-legged fella. When I first brought home my rescued ball of
yummy, I’d stay out there with him to make sure he felt comfortable, didn’t tear up my flower beds. I’d pull a few
pea-gravel rocks from his mouth.
But as time passed, I became more comfortable with his backyard sniffing and cold morning zoomies. So I would
leave the door open, fix my coffee, and he would come trotting in as soon as he completed his business.
Got me to thinking...
I’m there as a parent. My children are 27, 24 and 19. My middle, my oldest son, married in Oct. 2023 and my
oldest child, my daughter, married New Year’s Eve. My baby boy, not so much a baby, left for college in August.
You see? My children no longer need me to walk them around the yard. To keep my eyes on them every second. To
call them in from the street and immediately warn them of danger. Don’t get me wrong, it will be my job until my
last breath to encourage, advise and rebuke. But no longer a need for me to hover.
It's a strange reality. To be more of a friend than a parent. On one hand, you’re relieved the foundation you
influenced seems to be standing strong. On the other, it’s an empty driveway at the end of the day. A new season
I’m excited to explore. Ready to venture into what’s next.
However....
I will always leave the house open for when
my children come trotting through. Maybe,
eventually, with a few more pattering feet
behind them. Grandbabies to run around the
backyard with Hank.
Christy’s oldest two children, Abby and Billy, are
both featured in this issue of East Alabama Living
Weddings. Read about the joyous events on pages
30 and 74 of this issue.
80 EAST ALABAMA WEDDINGS