Off he goes into the wild blue yonder

We had yet another tramatic experience today. Andy flew by himself to Oklahoma. I have been dreading this day. It all started at 3 am when the alarm sounded time to get up. I was VERY nervous! We planned to get there with two hours to spare, just in case. As I parked the car, my stomach was all in knots about all the scenarios that could happen to Andy today.

When we went in, there were people everywhere! I don't know if I've ever seen it that packed except maybe at holidays. We stood in incredibly long and slow lines. All of the sudden I remember that in all my nervousness, I forgot to pay attention to where I parked. Andy tells me the parking space number, but I am a stress case about if he can do this alone or not, so I still don't pay attention to the number. We have flown as a family countless times, so Andy has a lot of experience, but as his mother I still feel the need to take care of him.

I got a special pass to be able to walk with him to his gate. I saw him board the plane and even had him call once inside. He thought I was going a little overboard, but he is my baby! When he called from inside the plane, I reminded him to turn off the cell phone when we were done.

About 2 minutes after we hung up, I suddenly remembered that I still didn't know where I parked. I franticly called Andy back, but as an obedient son, he had turned off the phone! Ok, no big deal, how hard can it be to find the car. I know I parked on the 5 level, so that's where I headed. I felt pretty confident about it as I started traced our steps back to where the car should be. First, go across the skywalk, then up the elevator, and then just on the other side of the elevator should be the car....

My car was no where in sight. I was in a dark parking garage full of vehicles, but no people, and I have no idea where my car is. I was remembering scenes from movies at this point, it's not good. I started going across every aisle, begining to panic now. Breathe, calm down, Ok, what was it Andy told me?? 5N something or other? I am in aisle D. I start to head for aisle N looking down each isle. I am getting closer, closer, (there are about 800 cars on this level) finally aisle N. There is my car, right where my son said it was.

This is just another one of those life lessons for me. Andy has now safely landed and is in my mom and dads care, but today my eyes have been opened to the fact that my son is quickly growing into a man. I thought I needed to go into the airport to "take care" of him, and the biggest problem I encountered was my own parking problem, which Andy solved for me.

So, I end this day with pride that Andy is so capable, but also with a pang of sadness that my little boy is no longer my "little boy."