Last night we were at one of the local colleges for my daughters graduation (from High School) during the peak of all the tornado watches and warnings that were being sent out. We were all fortunate that with all the severe storms that did hit us, none of them formed into any tornados. (I can tell you that while we were sitting inside that arena dome, I could here the rain and the wind howling outside and the whole time sitting there, (in the back of my mind) I kept thinking to myself; "Lord , please do not let any bad happen tonight". There was almost 550 Sr's graduating last night, so needless to say, there was alot of families in that arena.
Everthing went according to plans, and my daughter (my little girl, "daddy's girl") has now graduated from High school...."sniff", and has just left with her older brother to head down to Ocean City, Maryland to stay there for a week with 5 of her girlfriends in a room. She's a really good girl, loves school (she averages between 3.8 and 3.9 GPA) honor roll, etc... But I'm still a little sad, It's the first time that she has ever been off on her own, and I'm sitting here, worrying, like a nervous ninny.... and I know and realize, that as much as I have to learn to let go, this is, one of the most difficult things as a Father, that I have ever done, is to start letting go..... She looks at me like her Dad is as tough as nails, But when it comes to her, I melt like a marshmellow on the inside. It makes me sad (sitting here thinking) knowing that's she's growing up....
As a footnote here, I do have one thing that makes me feel a little better, that is her older brother will be down there as well (a few blocks away) and I know that he will keep an eye on her.
