Shortly after posting this entry, we will leave for Roanoke College to attend Becky's graduation. She obviously will have many memories of her time at Roanoke, but we will have many memories of her time there, too: Taking her to school her freshman year, visiting and attending Salem Avalanche games, checking on her when she had mono, hearing about this boy named Jesse for the first time . . .
I never drive down to Salem without thinking about the first time that we visited the school on a cold, cold January weekend in 2005. Becky was 95% sure that she was going to attend Lynchburg and we decided to visit Roanoke as well since it was so close. We visited both schools and on the way home, Becky said, "Dad, I think I have a problem," and I knew just what she meant. Now she was 95% sure that she was going to Roanoke and so she did.
Your kids are like your favorite ballplayers, really. You encourage them, root for them, try to will good things for them from the sidelines . . . you collect souvenirs and memories.
Little decisions in Life can sometimes yield breathtaking results. First we heard about Jesse, then he came home with Becky to meet us. Then, they announced that they were engaged and this October, they will be married. (October ought to produce some interesting blog entries.) Good thing we decided that we had nothing to lose by checking out Roanoke . . .
Between now and then, however, Becky will be home with us. That's our graduation gift. Six more months of having our daughter home before we send her off on a different and much more permanent adventure. We will cherish this re-creation of the past, even the arguments that I can only imagine will take place because Becky is used to being independent now, and we're--well, we're used to being parents.
Congratulations, Becky. You've worked hard and done well and we're proud of you.
Then and now.
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