It’s here already, then end of summer.  “How did this happen?”  I wonder the same question every year. The older I become the more significant this question becomes.

Today my youngest goes to high school orientation for her junior year.  It’s the day she will receive her class schedule, books, take her school picture, buy her yearbook and sign up for all her clubs and activities that are school related.  She will also be assigned a locker, which she will never use.  I will drive her and a friend up to orientation, stay for just a bit and then leave them.  Her friend’s mom will pick them up later today, after they have had time to adequately say hello to all those friends they have missed seeing over the summer, reconnect and just wander around aimlessly for a few hours.  She is so ready for school to start to see her friends. Honestly, I love the summertime and spending more time with her, but the Time Thief is here and summer is almost over.

I’ll be heading back to work for the rest of the morning, trying to get it all done before she is finished with her aimless wandering.  In another two weeks, I’ll be back on a regular schedule, working more hours because nobody is home.  Everyone else will be back to school or work on a regular basis or moved out to college…Oh, Time Thief, you have been busy.

And now, the part I’m probably struggling with the most: my oldest child moves into college exactly one week from Saturday.  I’ve been silently counting the days down since last fall. I thought I was the only one.  I just heard my son count them down out loud yesterday when speaking to a neighbor. “So, are you ready to go off to Arkansas?” “Yes, Ma’am. Nine days.”  What?!? Nine days? You are counting them, too? I guess you are.  I’ve seen you spending every moment of your time left here in town squeezing in as much time with all your friends you have had since Kindergarten.  Kindergarten to age 18 is a long time for someone age 18.  Most everything you know has been here in this town.  Is it difficult to leave?  Or are you just so ready that you are running out the door?  I’m guessing it is the same as everyone at that stage of life, a little of both.  I know that’s how I feel.  I’m super happy and yet a little sad.  I’m so very excited for you and all you have before you, but I cannot help but glance back over my shoulder and see all the good memories of your adolescence.  The Time Thief has been so very busy.  It seems like yesterday that I pushed your Little Tykes plastic slide over to the window, so that you would be tall enough to see out into the world when you climbed up.  I remember wondering if you would ever be tall enough to see out into the world through the window.  At that moment, it never even crossed my mind about the time you would be going out into the world.  It never even crossed my mind.  The Time Thief was sneaky and yet kind, letting me savor that moment.  But here you are going out into the world.  I’m so happy for you.  I know you will live out your good life. It is and has been wonderful watching you grow.  I hold each moment in my heart.

And now we are here at this moment, the end of summer, the end of your childhood, the stepping across the bridge to adulthood; this summer was short.  The Time Thief ran through the summer and life leaving me wanting for more. But, I am grateful for what I have had and what I currently have. It is good.  And I will treasure these fleeting moments, because the Time Thief has been generous to allow time to slow down for these few days left of summer.  I am allowed to reflect and enjoy and savor this moment.

Thank you, Time Thief.