T-Minus One Day

2/16
Becky takes me to my Dad’s after Sam’s gymnastic class Thursday night. From there, I’ll spend the night for an early flight out of Columbus to Guatemala City. Things have been hectic all week, and I know I was holding my family up to impossible expectations, creating additional stress on top of the stress I was already trying to deal with. At 9:30 p.m., Becky suggests she and the kids head back to Dayton as Maddie and Sam have another day of school ahead of them. Madeline hugs me and tells me I’m not going. She doesn’t let go for anything. Sam gives me hugs too and treats it like a game.
He says, “ I’m gonna miss you when you’re gone, Daddy.”
Maddie literally will not let go of me. She’s sad, and it makes Becky and I sad. I’ll miss Maddie too. We have a lot in common and a lot of fun when we’re together. The tears don’t come until she’s in the van with the door shut. Sam just wants me to “kiss Mommy a bunch!” I do. She and I haven’t connected much over this last busy week and a half. Sam laughs then gets sad as he sees his Sissy is sad. Knowing I'll be missed so much makes it a nice good-bye.