Rite of passage

Today was the first day I slapped on the STUDENT DRIVER PLEASE BE PATIENT magnets and let Gavin drive. He's a bit squishy on the stops and wide on the curves, but we made it to work without running over anybody or going off the bridge.

and apparently we both make the same 'yiiiikes' smile

We're switching gears on a lot of things this year, as he approaches 17 and starts considering colleges. Last childhood Halloweens, last Christmases as a kid. I had been thinking that I would be immune to the empty nest thing that will happen some day, as a person who is comfortable being alone, but then I was left by myself on Monday and scared myself stupid with the security cameras, convinced there was someone standing in the driveway and staring at the house, just outside the partially-opened gate.

I sat frozen on the couch, staring at the live feed for a long time before sneaking to the window and realizing it was the neighbor's traffic cone and a lawn chair. When the time comes for the kids to leave home, I'll move somewhere with bears to eat imaginary intruders. And then I'll just have bears to deal with. This is a good plan.