The real empty nest syndrome

My oldest son has started a new phase in his life

and by default, so have I.

He got himself a job in a construction camp

North

in Fort McMurray Alberta

5 hours or so norther and 5 hours easter from here.

In another province altogether

Manufacturing screw pilings

(Not quite sure yet how that works)

He'll be working 12 hour shifts, 14 days in a row, then 7 days off

in which he can come home, flight paid, if he chooses

So he's not gone for good

But it's a big step for him

A step up and away

We took him to the airport in Kamloops,

the nearest city to here, 2 hours drive.

To the teetsy tiny airport with one arrival gate and two departure gates

He checked his bags in, went through the security arbour

and was gone

There was another flight boarding just before his

and I watched the passengers walking single file out to the tarmac,

Worried that he'd be in the wrong lineup for the wrong plane.

I watched out the window as he boarded the little baby plane

(I'm not a hero when it comes to flying

and when the pilot walked by me out to the tarmac, I told him to fly safe,

cause he had my boy in there)

I took a picutre as he boarded the plane,

He's just stepping in

The sun was shining right off the plane and through the window

And I only had my cell phone camera

So it was point with your eyes shut and click

And hope for the best,

Didn't quite work out so well.

The worker in front of the plane gave the thumbs up to shut the door

Then waved his orange light sabers to direct the pilot.

He made a sharp turn

Went to the end of the runway,

Turned around again,

And quickly gathered speed

But not as quickly as my eyes gathered tears.

One minute he was there,

The next he was gone

Off into the horizon

To build a nest of his own.

My boy.