And another one gone...

My younger son is headed to Nashville.  To make his dreams come true.

It's a sad fact of a mother's life.  You do everything you can to help ensure that  1) your children have dreams and 2) your children believe they can make their dreams come true and 3) your children have the skills and courage to go after those dreams when their time comes and 4) they are secure enough - independent enough - to ignore the nay-sayers and take the plunge.

And if you're successful as a mother, they will be secure and courageous and independent and will hit the road toward those dreams.

And away from their mother.

So, now my sons are out of the reach of my greedy mommy hands.  One in Japan, and the other currently at the junction of the 40 and Route 66 for the night, on his way to - appropriately - the homeland of our ancestors.

It will take awhile before the tears stop leaking.  Well, actually, maybe they never will, as they still show up from time to time for his older brother and his family.

But it helped to see his happy face in this little clip, to hear him belt away with a highway song.  And today I found some little things on sale for my "happy room," as my son has dubbed it.  And while at Michaels heard a "new" (to me, anyway) happy little song called "Brighter Than the Sun," which I tracked down on freegal and put on my ipod for free.  Colbie Caillat.  Adorable.

I don't get out much.

Tomorrow a good dinner with mom at our favorite BBQ and Grillery (Red's) in Simi Valley, and Saturday a trip to Disneyland.

Spirits will be lifted.

And that great big door to the mystery of my future is shoved wide open.  Time to walk through.