A Series of Final Days

Aaron on the day of his
"temporary retirement" from the working world

The end times are coming...and I'm not talking about the world. A series of events have resulted in making it clear that this is a season for "lasts." It's been about two weeks ago when Aaron celebrated his last day of work. Doesn't sound like anything too impressive until one considers he worked as a server at St. Anne Home and Retirement for over two years. That's quite a bit of seniority for an 18 year old!

Then we took our last family vacation before he leaves. We spent over 3 days in the Cooperstown, New York area enjoying the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction weekend. We also just relaxed and took in the serene scenery. Unexpectedly, Niagara Falls even made it onto our itinerary on the return trip as Mike had never seen them!

Aaron, Mike, and Charlene
at Niagara Falls, New York

And it's the small things too. Last Friday and Saturday we held what was likely our last garage sale after ten years. It had become a tradition. Aaron had learned business principals (like paying his dad back for the concession supplies) and negotiating skills. On Sunday we stood in church prior to communion and exchanged the sign of peace. I looked at Aaron, hugged him as usual, then noted that I only have a couple more of these before he leaves.

I imagine if I were the parent of a son preparing to leave for college, I might note these events or perhaps not. I recall my own time of young adulthood as transitional. This route with Aaron seems much more fixed. It does not feel like my son is taking baby steps into adulthood but rather a giant leap.

As they teach the youth in the exchange program, do not look at your home or host country as being right or wrong, just different. This is true of this experience for me as well. It is very different to experience these final days. While other parents will be able to continue to see their college students as they commute from home or visit on occasional weekends (to do laundry of course!), my son will be half way around the world for over 10 months.

People, very frequently, will ask if we're going to miss him. To which we often respond that we are ready for him to leave...we are ready to experience a home to ourselves...at least for a while. But, yes we will miss him. Perhaps that is why I continue to savor these moments and this time.

Resting at Glimmerglass State Park, 
located at the north end of Lake Otsego, New York.