Sam's majority

It's the end of an era: twenty-eight years of mothering minor children. At the suggestion of a wise friend of mine, I've been preparing, trying to give myself permission to recognize this as a stressful transition: happy stress, but something with emotional weight. To pay attention to my emotional self and not try to tough it out by ignoring or denying the deep emotions that surface. I have kept myself from crying uncontrollably, but I have accepted tears welling up and acknowledged the feelings.

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Sam's graduation was June 7, 2009 at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell. Then on Thursday, June 18, he packed up and we drove him to Logan Airport. As I watched him clear security and saunter down the gate corridor to disappear from sight, I turned to Jim and cried on his shoulder. Such a mixture of pride, joy, sadness, and curiousity of what his future will hold. He texted me when he boarded the flight and now he's at BYU, getting oriented and starting classes on Monday.