Jeff just graduated from THE Ohio State University last weekend, and Melanie just finished her freshman year at the Univ. of Washington (Go Dawgs!) When they were younger, I looked forward to their attempts to celebrate Father's Day...the handmade gifts, the cute cards, the effort to make my day special. I am at the point where I am spending more time reminiscing about their younger days and I am less focused on their lives now. I guess it is because I have less to do with their everyday world. I know this day has been coming, and that our relationships begin to change, but it is still tough. I remember the day they were born, their first words, their first steps, and almost everything memorable until now.
Now I am looking forward to the day that Jeff becomes a dad and Mel becomes a mom. She swears she will NEVER have kids, but I see her being just like Lori. And I secretly hope she gets a kid just like her...too smart for her britches. I think Jeff will be a better dad than I was because he is more patient, less volatile, and much less wound tight than I am. Jeff is just starting his adult life, and I hope I don't jinx him, but he has a real job offer and will be moving to LA to start that phase in his life later this summer. He feels fortunate that he has a job so soon after graduation, and secretly, Lori and I breathed a huge sigh of relief as well. Not that we were too worried, but it is tough to watch your kid worry a little about their future when you want it to be so bright that they need shades indoors.
This is the best gift a father can ask for...an assurance that your kids are off to a good start, and that you helped him get there. So that page turns, and a new chapter is about to be written.
Chow!
