The first time Lizzy rode a bus to school was in the first grade.
It was a big event for all of us; my parents even came over and spent the night in order to see their little granddaughter off to school. Lizzy was so excited about school starting and riding that bus that she was up and dressed at four o'clock in the morning.
Finally the appointed hour arrived and we all headed down to the corner to await the bus. We must have been quite a sight: Lizzy and her entourage.
I didn't know how she would react when it came time to actually board the bus. I rehearsed my gently encouraging speech over and over in my head: "This will be great! You're going to have so much fun at school! I can't wait to meet all your new friends!" I envisioned having to drive a screaming kid to school on that first day.
The bus arrived. The door opened. The entourage tensed and held it's breath.
Lizzy climbed up into the bus, turned once, smiled, waved and said "See ya!" The doors closed and she was gone.
We were left, a small, sad entourage on the corner. A tear rolled down my cheek as I watched my confident daughter be carried off toward the future. She didn't need us; we needed her. Well, we needed her to need us.
So today, as I watch my confident daughter drive off by herself for the very first time, I'm reminded of that morning not so long ago. As a tear again rolls down my cheek I hope that in the short years that have separated that moment from this I have taught her to make good choices, do the right thing and to never forget that I still need her to need me even if it's only every once in awhile.