Hitting the road

[Pilgrim]

Today my wife and I are moving my youngest daughter to Oklahoma for an 8-month professional internship.  She just finished her B.S. in Foods & Nutrition May 11 and wants to be come a registered dietician...the internship is the next step.

We have a 700-mile trip today and tomorrow, then will help her set up the apartment...then turn around Sunday and head home.  

She's a great young lady and I'm gonna miss her a lot.  I'm truly fortunate that both daughters went to college here in Fort Collins, so I've been able to enjoy their company on a regular basis.  But that time has come - it's her job to take the next step, and our job to support her.  



From left to right - youngest daughter Ali, my wife JoAnn, older daughter Liz.  The girls are only 13 months apart, and they're both fantastic people.  We're blessed.

Dad's gettin' misty over here.     But it's time and things are going great.   

[Highlander]

Safe travels and good fortunes for you all...

700 miles is more than the longest trip I've ever made here - a regular one is the route up to the ferry for the Island which is 670 ish

[TBird1958]

Have a safe trip Al!

Congratulations to your daughter, kudos to you and your wife - the world needs more caring parents like you.

[jumbodbassman]

Have a safe trip Al!

Congratulations to your daughter, kudos to you and your wife - the world needs more caring parents like you.

+1

[Dave W]

I feel for you. It's hard to see your kids move far away from home.

Drive safely and remember, Oklahoma is OK. Not great, just OK.

[Nocturnal]

Have a safe trip. My daughter is talking about moving to Miami after she finishes college next year. I am not thrilled about that at all 
It's hard not getting to see her as often as I would like and she is only 2 hrs away. It isn't easy letting them go, but I know that it is time for it to happen.

[Lightyear]

Congrats Al!

My daughter just graduted a week ago and will start on her masters in August.  Until she's finished she's here at home but then she's hell bent for leather to move to California - south of Yosmite.  At least it's not L.A.

I know you have to let them go - nothing says it has to be easy

[Pilgrim]

Made about 500 miles today - here's a photo somewhere in the wilds of Kansas...



We're driving the Murano and Ali has the 1991 Camaro convertible.

[Dave W]

That's about as scenic as you can get on the road in Kansas.

[rahock]

Congrats. I know it's a bittersweet moment ,but life goes on bud. Enjoy the trip and enjoy the moment .
Rick

[drbassman]

Hey Al, I remember the feelings when sending the kiddies off to Penn State and Clemson.  It's been 10 years since my daughter flew the coop and 6 for my son.  Wow, how time flies.  Thank heaven for Verizon family plans and Skype!  We knew when they left they would not come back to NY.  As much as we would love it, there's not much here for them professionally.  Good luck to you and your daughter!  Blessings and safe travels home too!

I don't know about you, but we live vicariously through our kids lives.  They live in unique places (Kansas and Virginia) and we get to travel a lot to see them.  Their jobs are very interesting and we love to learn about keeping aircraft carriers running and how Cargill supplies meat to McDonalds!  So, there is a bright side to their absence.

Hey Dave, Kansas may be flat, but the people there are spectacular and the Ag industry is alive and well!  Wichita is a bit sleepy, but it has everything one could want except up-to-the-minute fashion and top professional sports teams.  My daughter likes it, but misses St. Louis, her previous assignment.  That's a great town!   

[Pilgrim]

Well, we got the trailer unloaded in 2 hours flat...including humping all the stuff including a mega-heavy huge coffee table and sofa into an upstairs apt. Had dinner at the Branding Iron BBQ - dang, their smoked sausage is excellent!

It's 11:30 Central and we've been going since early.  Drove the last 200 miles this AM and am a long way to having boxes unpacked.  I spent part of the evening after the requisite Wally World run assembling a cabinet for the TV, setting up DVD and TV and programming a Harmony 650 remote to run the system. 

Tomorrow we'll have time to finish our part of the unpacking, take a look around town and get ready to leave Sunday AM.  That's when dad will get misty.

[drbassman]

Ah yes, the old misty-eyed retreat to the empty nest.  It goes away after a few weeks!

[Pilgrim]

The return trip was speedy!  We drove back in one day - 722 miles - and did it in 10 hours, 40 minutes.  According to the car computer, average speed when the key was on was 69.5 MPH.  I must say I was boogie'n across those wide-open roads in Oklahoma and Kansas where you can see 3 miles ahead.  Hit the Interstate (I-70) west of Hays KS and it was 80+ all the way home.

We're feeling good.  It hit me before we left that she was set - and she didn't need us there anymore.  She's getting it done by herself now, and we're a phone call away.  I feel good about having two smart, capable daughters.

[drbassman]

Good parenting never goes out of style!