Wendy Malley Photography

My sweet Olivia is 23 today.

She is missing her baby.

Gulp,

While driving her to the airport last night I realized that a lot of cars were passing me, which (usually) never happens (I won’t say why),

-and then I realized I was driving 20 km per hour below the speed limit.

I guess the subconscious me was dragging her feet,,, quite a bit.

It’s one thing to see her friends all go off into the world and move far away, but I realized it’s quite another thing when it is your own child; your baby, your world.

I’ve had children move clear across the country before and that was hard, but they were still in the “same country”.  I knew that despite the miles between us they would still be close in that we would still share so much of the same things; the same government, the same food, the same money, and when they turned on the television at night, it would be the same national news that would be on both out television screens (even though they would turn the station as soon as they saw it).  It’s quite silly really, but because of this, they didn’t feel quite so far away.

But when they move to another country, another continent, clear across the ocean- as much as you are happy for them and the wonderful adventures they will have and the amazing places they will see, a lump comes into your stomach, that sits there and doesn’t go away.

So if any of you just happen to be in Italy during the next year, and you see a beautiful girl exploring the gorgeous cathedrals or exploring the some ancient ruins ( more likely trying to order a pizza in very poor italian or getting lost while driving her two little charges to school in the morning) will you please stop and give her a hug for me?

If I were her would I go? – Absolutely.

Will I miss her? – Already do.

(Taken on our way to the airport yesterday.)