Parental patience

"Hi honey. Just checking in. Hoping all is well. Talk to you later."
"Hi honey. Just checking in again. Wondering how you are. Talk to you later"
"Hi honey. Please call us back. We're just wanting to talk to you and find out how everything is. Please do call us back. Talk to you later."

Within just a few days, increasingly angry and frustrated messages can pile up from one's parents when you are in a new place, a place that they don't know much about, a place that may frighten or intrigue them. Or, at least, they do on my phone. But what can be done when the son either doesn't have much to report or desire to be on the phone? The answer: just deal.

Parents are funny that way. They want to know. They want to know that their kin are well (and alive). They may want details, but more often then not, they just want to hear. Hear something. Hear a voice.

Not so much to ask for.