Big Birthday, Big Trip; Little Girl, Big Girl

SHE'S GONE FROM THIS...

TO THIS...IN 20 YEARS AS OF MAY 3...

That's right, it's another landmark in our lives. My daughter turns 20 on May 3, but she won't be here.

She'll be in Europe, travelling to places like London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Munich, Venice, Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Greece, Florence and Nice.

She's leaving April 29 and isn't coming back until July. She's travelling with one friend in what will be the voyage of her young life.

She's saved for most of the trip herself, although she's getting help, of course.

There's a big party later this month on my side of the family to honour a whole bunch of my family's birthdays, including hers, and to send her off properly.

It's possible I'll be out of town, in neighbouring Saskatchewan covering a hockey series, and won't be able to attend that party.

So this past weekend, I took her and her brother out to her favourite place for dinner.

I should be taking them out every week like this, because we never have as much fun as we do when we go out for dinner. We all laugh at each other and tease each other, and more often than not, she's the target.

So here's what that was all about. (Note my son's goofy expression in the pic below)

One of the highlights is always my son's eating habits. He eats like a horse, but he's supremely picky.

And he plays with his food. When he finds something to play with, everybody has to know about it.

And in this case, he found what he claimed was a baby octopus.

Sadly, I had to agree with him. The picture above is blurry. But that's what it looks like.

And his dish did include calamari. Anyway, we had fun with it. He even had to take a pic of it.

I had to get them to do their normal goofy pose...and then it was time for dessert...

Several hours before this, I had told her she had to keep in touch with me and let me know where she was and that she was safe.

Of course, she shrugged it all off and said she and her friend planned on starting a blog to keep all of us informed.

She didn't want to hear it, but I explained how helpless I'll be feeling, unable to protect her or come to her rescue if something happens.

And I asked her to try to understand that feeling and to take seriously my need to know she's OK.

She acknowledged that and said she'll do her best.

All I can say is, EEK!

AND HOPE I DON'T FREAK!!!