Ordinary Maine

I am a lucky man. I am married to a wonderful wife, and I have two great children. On top of that, I have always been in a position to enjoy all of the really big events in the lives of my kids. Camden, my son, is the oldest and today he had another first that I was able to witness. While discussing this first with my wife the other night, I began to wonder just how I would write about this experience. Renee suggested that I spend some time thinking about some of Camden's other firsts.

In his five years, I have personally been present to watch Camden do many things. I still remember the first time I held him in my arms. I remember the first time I changed his diaper, and I will never forget the first time he woke Renee and I up in the middle of the night. Since that evening in January of 2004, I have been fortunate to be present for some great firsts.

I remember the first time Camden got really sick, and we discovered that he had a problem with his ears; that was a Christmas Eve to remember. I remember his first trip to the playground and his wonder on the swing. I remember his first long car ride to Van Buren, Maine and how well he slept. I will never forget the day I captured him on camera discovering his shadow. His first haircut was so fun to watch. He was so serious. I remember his first broken bone, his first ER trip and his first visit to the Doctor. As I sit here typing, I am amazed that it was only yesterday Renee and I put him in the car and brought him home from the hospital.

I can still picture the first night I tried to tent with him in the backyard. He almost made it the entire night, but got spooked at 3 am and had to go inside. I remember our first walk together; that turned into a habit that has continued to this day. I remember the day he became a big brother and was the first person, other than Dad, to hold his baby sister. And now it is only within the last few months that Camden lost his first two teeth in the space of three days.

So with all those great experiences and many more behind us, I prepared myself for this day with great pride and reservation. You see, today Camden's journey took a different path, and instead of going to day care, he boarded a bus for the ride to his first day of school. I have always heard others talk about these days, but to be present for the actual event and add it to my list of memories, is truly something to be thankful for.



I could not send him off without a hug and a kiss, but today unlike all the others, there was no room for our High Five, Low Five, Knuckle Bump and Mish-Mash combo. I guess that is the price of parenting a growing boy. As he rounded the corner and headed down the isle of the bus, I watched with pride as he took his seat and looked out the window with great excitement. He smiled and returned my wave as the bus drove off into the morning. Just another first in the jouney of life. I cried.

Tony