June is here!

Wow. June!

Oregon berries have arrived, which to me has always felt like Nature's reward for making it through the long, cold winter and the usual gray, rainy spring. This year, we had a mild winter and a pretty nice spring, but I still felt myself let out a big, happy sigh when I bit into the first sweet berry. Summer is my favorite. And it's basically here.

Next week, my youngest son graduates from high school. It doesn't take much to cause the water works to start these days, let me tell you. I try to not let him see it. After all, he's thrilled to be done. He's worked hard, and there is much to celebrate, and much to look forward to. But for me, it's the end of an era. And it's hard to say good-bye to something I've loved so very much. Okay, well, I haven't loved all of the homework and projects and testing stress and all of that, but being his mom for the past 18 years? Yeah. I've really, really loved that. And I know that won't change - I'll always be his mom. But it feels like things are changing. Shifting. As they should, I suppose. But it doesn't mean it's easy.

Tomorrow, he and his dad will be jumping out of an airplane to celebrate the fact that he's 18 now, and on to college next year.

I'll be curled up in my comfy chair, telling myself it will be okay, that they'll come home for dinner, and the four of us will sit down and eat together, and the other son and I can hear all about it.

June is here. Unlike most years, I have mixed feelings about that. But like every June, I'll eat the sweet berries and try to savor every moment of summer. Every moment with the boy who will be off to college next year.

Wow.