I was just looking over the letter we got from SDA the other day about the last months of school and information about prom, senior awards night, graduation-dates, times.  I said out loud, "Getting to the end .  .  ."  and then thought from E's point of view, "Getting to the beginning .  .  ."

I couldn't wait to get out and go to college and start my life.  I was scared-hence why I went so close to home to the ultimate safe school, but I was away from home and thrilled.  No matter how much she loves us, loves home-it's time for childhood to be over and for her adult life to start.  All the things she'll get to do, friends she'll make, romances she'll have, things she'll learn .  .  . The bizarre thing is-so much we'll never know anything about.  It goes so fast.  I waited my whole life to have a baby, be a mother.  I swear I was just pregnant, wearing those maternity overalls, living in Baltimore, and rocking in her nursery-couldn't wait to meet her, hold her, kiss her.  Then here we are: 18 years later and she's ready to head out into the world.