This has been one of my favorite summers. Toasty warm during the day, cool and cloudy in the evening. I can't believe how fast it's flown, but this is reflective of time in general. Hunter left for Basic Training at the end of June. Gone. Just like that. I've turned into one of those mother's who haunt the mailbox and super glue the cell phone to my hip on weekends. I've never frequented either device more than I currently do. Another delightful surprise has been wet eyeball syndrome. I can't finish writing a letter without watering my mascara. It feels as if my maternal responsibilities are dissipating, but I have so much more I need to teach them. I have so many pitfalls I need them to avoid. I have so much hope for the futures they can have.
Hunter was bad enough, but all of the sudden Cooper has peeked his head around my apron and found a whole new world. He went to Scout Camp with Kurt for 6 days and didn't even miss me a blink. I admit the next one was my own fault, but the thought of walking around the Fair for 5 hours while Coop went ride hopping convinced me to encourage an adult free fair experience. Today he and a friend took on the challenge, although Coop did voice his concern a couple of times. Upon retrieval, after the exuberant R.V. report, I asked him if he did okay with any parental shadowing. His response? It was his best Fair ever. My apron strings are starting to become thread barren. It's painful but necessary.
I promise one thing. No matter how much wear and tear occurs, I'll never give that apron away. It's a part of who I am, who I was meant to be. A reminder of blessings of the past, challenges of the present, and hope for the future.
