I guess there is no way of preparing for the waterfall of feelings when your first child leaves home. My son is already tired of me hugging him and reminding his friends, “she doesn’t normally do this, it’s that my sister just moved out.” I was ready, and always knew this was the endgame but when it actually happens the feeling of loss is palpable. Friends tell me I will be better in a month or so, until then I am thankful for my jewelry to distract me and my supportive husband, family and dear friends. Thank you to the kind flight attendant who gave me an ENTIRE box of tissue on my flight home alone and the sweet group of young travelers in Kahului that told me their mom cried when they left home and they were only leaving for a week! I am embracing this new club I’m in that joins me now with the many people in my life who have seen their children grow up and fly onto their own lives with courage and grace. Despite the tears, it’s a better scenario by far than her staying home and messing up my kitchen with dishes and food scraps! Now if she leaves food out the cockroaches will come back…a MUCH stronger deterrent obviously than I ever was! To the moon and back Miss M – I love you!