It Begins at Birth

Today is June 26, 2010. It’s an important day because we are on our way to the Outer Banks in North Carolina for our annual family vacation. One month from today, July 26, my son Calvin leaves home for Seattle, Washington to begin his career as a software development engineer with Microsoft. One year from today, June 26, 2011, he is getting married to Vicki, a delightful young woman who already feels like part of the family. For the next year, this blog will be as series of anecdotes, musings and reflections on how this single mom has prepared to let go.

It begins at birth. We don't think about it, but we are not the first to hold them. After we get our turn, we hand them over to others, then they are passed back to us and this series of exchanges continues until we eventually see them off into the world. My oldest son was born on a Tuesday a little over 22 years ago. I didn't realize it then, but every moment since 4:45 pm on March 29, 1988 has been spent in some form of preparation for the day he takes flight.

Calvin missed the past two years’ family beach vacations because he was working as a summer intern at Microsoft in Seattle, Washington. The internship ended last summer with a job offer upon graduation in May 2010. We wanted to be sure that he was able to participate in our family vacation this summer before heading off to Seattle, so we scheduled our beach trip a little earlier than usual. If today’s heat and sunshine is any indication, we’re in for some great summer beach weather this week.