My son held onto me a little longer than usual yesterday. I saw the anxiousness he carried and told him to sit with me so we could talk. I know the kids hear me talk of someday disappearing and becoming forest lore, but I needed them to know that I will never disappear from them.

I don’t expect my son to understand the logistics of interstate 91, nor should he be concerned with how I’ll manage to live in two places. What I want him to feel is my presence, in everything we do. My love, unconditional until I’m gone.

He tells me he’s afraid of change and I remind him, “change is how we grow”. So maybe this is something I can show my children, that just because you cannot see the end of the path, doesn’t mean you should never take it.