I was good right up until we approached the sign that said “ANTIGONISH 25 KM.” The Tall Blonde’s excitement was overwhelming and my heart, once again, was sinking.
It’s been a long few weeks of wondering if she’d even be able to go back to university on time.
(Read here on how The Tall Blond lost her sight – Blind as a Bat)
On top of that, there’ve been a number of things going on from me getting ready to head back to school, preparing Spiderman and Bones for their new routines, to summer coming to an end and saying good-bye to Little-One and her family as they head back to Dubai.
In the midst of it all, yesterday found us with the car packed and heading down the highway to drop my girl off for her second year at St. FX…the anticipation and excitement filling each of us.
Many years ago, when The Tall Blonde was a Tiny Redhead, her and I were in it together…us against the world. She was the amazing little being that changed my world…made me want more for myself…more for us. At the time, Trisha Yearwood covered an old Bob Dylan song called “To Make You Feel My Love” on her “Hearts in Armour” CD. It captured everything I couldn’t quite explain to my baby girl. The fact that if the entire world was stacked against her…I’d do my best to make it better. I’d move heaven and earth just so she’d have some idea of how much she means to me. I’d do anything to help her realize her full potential…her dreams…just so she’d have some idea of the greatness she is…the greatness I see. Before her, no one had ever made me feel that loved and on the multiple occasions she couldn’t settle…we’d hit the highway, turn on Trisha’s CD, and I’d sing the words that explained how far I’d go…just so she could feel my love.
Twenty five kilometres from dropping her off for another exciting year at St. FX, Adele’s version of the beautiful song came on and about ten seconds in…I lost it! It prompted The Tall Blonde to quickly switch songs and for everyone to take a deep breath as we continued the final stretch to “The Nish”.
She’s unpacked, her room is put together and ready for another year. Her new residence looks like a beautiful hotel compared to last year’s accommodations which had Spiderman eloquently announcing “it’s like the difference between Mountain Gap and Digby Pines!” After a trip to Walmart, a run through the supermarket, a tour through the building…The Tall Blonde settled into her new surroundings for another year and we headed home.
There’s a lot going on in my world right now…my heart, my head, my body…all full. I would do anything for my children to know how much I love them from helping them realize their dreams to going after mine. It’s tough, things are changing…I can’t quite keep up with all of the emotions but we’re headed in the right direction.
Have a wonderful year, Tall Blonde:) Colleen, it's another new chapter – still with lots of love though.
As my youngest (of three) heads of to 'big' school for the first time I find myself in similar territory….my chest feels full of emotion and at times I wish I had ways to 'reveal' the depth of my love to my children in a way they could understand but I know that until they experience this 'magic' themselves it is simply impossible. Thank you for putting into words just how it feels. Keep writing please.