MY FIRST EIGHTEEN

Heart cloud

There was no celebration as years before. No cake to enjoy. No opening of presents.

‘But I still want to see you’, I heard her say on the call as I tried to find out what today’s schedule was going to be.

Her schedule was a busy one. Lunch with a friend in the afternoon, dinner with family in the evening, and the continued packing up of her room as she gets ready to leave for college. With such a full schedule, I would somehow have to find a way to at least see her.

My son and I got ready to drive the ten minutes over to their house. My older daughter and her father had arrived last night from their two weeks in Europe, so I dropped off my son to see his father whilst I drove around with my daughter so she could get her free birthday rewards.

Our first stop was crumbl where she got a chilled German Chocolate Cake cookie. Then we drove across the street to Chick-fil-A and waited in the drive-thru for her free brownie. Our last stop was Starbucks where she chose a delicious, bright pink coloured chilled drink. The Mango Dragonfruit Refresher.

Though I enjoyed the half hour or so of being in the car with her, I couldn’t help wishing that her phone was not taking up the little time we had together today as we drove around. It would be pointless to say something as nothing would change. Sadly, this has become a way of life for most people.

As we returned from our short time together, I dropped her off at her father’s house and wished her a happy birthday. My son stayed the night there whilst I returned home to reflect on the day and life in general. A bit of sadness mixed with frustrations and wondering what the future will bring. And then a smile as I looked outside and noticed a heart-shaped cloud which I immediately sent to my birthday girl. My first eighteen.