College bound

Ren Reiske © All Rights Reserved

Some emotions don't make a lot of noise. It's hard to hear pride. Caring is real faint — like a heartbeat. And pure love — why, some days it's so quiet, you don't even know it's there ...

—E.B.

In a few days, my firstborn will leave home to go to college. I’m not sure how I will feel — so many friends have forewarned me that it will be hard not to cry or feel melancholy. I feel prepared, or so I think. I know Matt will cry — Beau is, after all, daddy’s little girl and always will be. But she and I — even if she doesn't realize it, I know — have a connection that runs deep. She has my stubbornness and independent streak, which often times have lead us to tumultuous fights. We went through that difficult phase when I realized I had to let go of my young girl, so she could take those first brave steps on her own and learn from them. She continues and I know in my heart, she will be fine. She is after all, a lot like me.