Schools Out

For my youngest daughter, today was the last day of school for the summer. She'll be in 7th grade this fall. I don't seem able to recall grades 3 - 5. She must have completed those grades in about 3 days or most likely jumped from 2nd grade straight to 6th because she's so smart and knows everything - I asked her and that's what she told me.

I used to have a little girl who loved for her daddy to show up at her school to eat lunch with her. All of a sudden there is now a young lady, an almost-a-teenager living in my house and showing up for lunch at school is no longer exactly desirable. I used to be big Daddy-man, knower of all things, able to leap tall buildings, faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive. But here in just the last year, my big red S seems to have gotten washed with the bleach laundry and I no longer hold the key to knowledge. As a matter of fact, I seem to now be an Opposite - I somehow say the opposite of the truth. I'm getting used to being wrong about everything, but I still can't recall when I fell on my head or developed a tumor or whatever occurred for me to go so dumb so quick. It's a feeling all parents eventually have in common.

She's a good kid though, a really good kid and I'm proud as can be. It's time to start spreading her wings and figuring things out on her own, but I'm going to ensure she always has a safe place to retreat to, a sanctuary filled with love. My baby girl is growing up fast and I just might be having a bit of difficulty with that, but I'll just have to get over it because for now it's summer time and for her, the living is easy. And that's the way it should be. Wonderful summer-time memories are waiting to be born. Enjoy it while you can, Baby-girl. Daddy will take the pictures.