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The older I grow, the more I believe the familiar doctrine that time really does go by more quickly. It always sounded so cliche, until one particular day in August.
I felt myself missing my son so much this summer eventhough he was home the whole time. The thought of him leaving again in September was ever present on my mind. As a result, I found myself hugging him more than usual. I tried to spend time with him every chance I could, a hard thing to do around here this time of year when we’re all working double shifts. The only place I could catch up with him in the summertime would be on a wave and since I still haven’t learned to surf, I did the next best thing and took my camera to photograph him. As I was standing in the ocean the truth of the matter hit me about the same time a giant wave took me by surprise. All of a sudden, I felt surrounded by these super young moms. That’s when this adorable little boy caught my attention, transporting me back a few years. Wasn’t it just yesterday that my husband and I were holding our son’s hands and swinging him over the waves? And in sync we would all yell one, two, three, jump! My son was irresistably squeezable as a toddler and I often told him I was going to freeze him so he would stay little forever.
Obviously my plan didn’t work. How could it be that he is going to be turning twenty this year? and heading off for his second year of college? Where did the time go? We were just snapping a picture of him yesterday sitting on Miss Wilent’s lap (his first grade teacher at St. Ann’s). . . so it seemed...<
When I see young parents I almost feel compelled to talk to them and at least warn them to be careful how they spend their time. Time is the most important gift we can give our children. One day they are little, we feed them, they grow, and they are gone. . . right before our eyes!
This September, I plan on doing just what I did last September, spending the entire month on the beach, in the ocean so I can have a place to let go of my tears, and get reaccustomed to my empty nest. I am certain that contentedness will soon follow. Somedays, time stands still long enough for me to savor the memories, and I know, the years of raising my son were the best years of my life.
Sincerely,
Publisher, editor, and artist
The SUN by-the–sea, , WILDWOOD, NJ
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