"Readjusting is a painful process, but one that I find necessary from time to time." -Arthur Christopher Benson

She said she wanted to go out into the wide world... I guess daughters do that.

Leave-taking has been on my mind lately. My daughter has been in the throes of the college application process. She has made a number of decisions about where she might be going next year, what she'll be doing, and what's in store. Of course, it all involves a leave taking that is necessary and exciting and painful. I think I'll be happier, and certainly more relaxed, when all this application business is behind us.  The deadlines and the essays and the on-line forms and the baring of ones financial soul to the world and the personal statements and the "tell us a little about your daughter"...  I think it might be starting to get to me (even though she is doing almost all of the work!).  And I am finding it more difficult to be as light-hearted about the whole process as I have been in the past.

And so thoughts of leaving and moving on and readjustments and a new world are not uncommon in this little house of ours.  The consensus is mixed (as it should be) and we are all a bit on edge and there are times when it is most unpleasant and there are times when it is all a delight.  

Gee... when has it ever been otherwise?

Cheers

Image notes:

This shot of Seattle was taken in IR and hdr-ified, the crackle is from a big pot that has forever been at the top of our stairs, the color is from an old rusty bit of car-door and the rowboat is from a bit of my past.  

Dad got this rowboat when we were kids and I've always loved that boat.  It could be converted to a little sailing dingy and I used to take it out on Puget Sound and sail it upwind (I learned the hard way that my sailing expertise was such that I should ALWAYS start upwind... nuff said) and then turn around and let it run.  Remembering still puts a smile on my face.  And when I would take it out just with oars, the center board was removed and this left a long, half-inch wide slot right in the middle of the seat and if I rowed too fast water would slosh up the slot and right into my crotch - you gotta love a boat like that!  :))  

So, anyway, the boat is still there at my parent old house (my brother was living there but now it is up for sale).  I went down there the other day and pulled out our old rowboat and saw the cracked and faded tape that we used to cover the slot when we rowed (it never worked completely so I always ended up with a wet crotch) and I sat in it and took pictures.  I have to say I was surprised how light the oars felt in my hands.   Of course, when I started doing this image I realized that it was my daughter that needed to be in the boat and not me... back to take more shots....  

and writing this got me to thinking... that old boat looked kinda grim and the bottom definitely had some questionable spots....  But now I wonder if it still floats.....