Look To Your Left

This week, I took my eldest of three sons to get fitted for his tux for his upcoming Senior Prom. Soon, he will attend the event, and make a memory that will last the remainder of his life. Then another milestone, in a little over a month, his high school commencement. He has been such a blessing in my life, the truest and purest gift that I have ever received and am forever indebted to. If I am to get paid for my raising, as some have warned, it is not through this young man. Not without flaws, of course, and far from perfection...but, my perfection.

A parent envisions the moments along the way...the first love, the first car, the Senior Prom, graduation, thus, his promises or falsehoods of the days to come. I remember well, (almost) 20 years ago, my high school commencement. I was sitting with my high school class and the principal said, "look to your left, then look to your right...this will be the last time that all of you will be in the same room at the same time, together." He was right, I knew that then.

A few years ago, my son and I attended a concert at Cardinal Stadium during the Kentucky State Fair, Boyz II Men. He wanted to go, so we went. Two songs that were his favs, mine too, Motown Philly and It's So Hard To Say Good-Bye. But, there was one song that stood out from all the rest, and I was so glad to be there in that moment...with MY son. We (the audience) were asked to call our mamas' and tell them how much we loved them, before they sang the song, A Song For Mama. You should have seen all the people calling from their cellphones that night in Louisville, KY. It was awesome. My son has the very song to this day on his iPod (with others I'm not particularly fond of), but that's not the point. I hope he takes that memory of he and I that night, and puts it in a file and thinks of it fondly...remembering how much his mama has adored him. How proud I am that he is my son.

So, for the Class of 2012 (and their mamas), and to ones that will follow, know that every mile is a memory...not all great, and even when you feel defeated...its still worth every single step. Say good-bye to yesterday, you'll at times want it back...but, you just take it with you on a brand new journey that you are about to embark upon. So, hold on tight when you need to, but throw your hands up when you can...it's quite a ride.