Milestones...

When I brought Sam home from the hospital, at approximately 18 hours old, I never even thought about 18 years later.  Then he turned like...11 and its all I could think about!  The regular refrain was  "Holy cow! When is this madness going to be over???" Now, he's mostly charming and mostly 18.  Well, 17 and a couple months anyway.  I like to pretend I'm stoic and impervious to the hormonal tidal wave of the average mom but I'm just not.  Every attempt at processing his departure triggers whatever brain part that pushes the tears to the surface.  When did he get here? Where was I while he inched his way to manhood? Here, I guess.  Anxious for the next milestone instead of savoring the one he was just in.

Tomorrow he meets with the Captain of the ROTC program for his scholarship interview.  This is the game changer.  This makes it real.  Oh please God, don't let me cry.