Dear Kids,

You are now all grown. Living on your own, building lives, businesses, relationships.

I’d like to leave a few things with you to hold for me as I travel. Sorry about this, but I could really use your help to free up some extra space.

Not much. Just a couple of things.

First, I need you to hold some worry for me. You see, my life has been inextricable linked to yours for the past 28 years. Your well-being has been foremost in my heart.

Though you are not part of my daily life, I carry you with me.

Did you eat well today? Are you happy? How is your life going? Did you experience joy this week? Did you learn something that blew your mind wide open? Are your flowers flourishing? Does someone else love you?

I’d like to eat a warm biscuit and not wish that you could taste the salt and butter. I would like to see a lacey, white blouse and not think how perfect you would look in it. I would like to hear a story and not want to talk to you about it.

And second, will you hold on to some memories for me? I need the room to make some new ones.

I hiked today and compared it to the hike that we took together years ago. It was your first ten mile hike. Remember? The one with the lake where an upside down mountain lived. Not the one where we swam unexpectedly and then drip-dried, watering wild flowers all the way down the mountain.

Can I leave these memories with you for a while?

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)*

I’d like to leave these things with you while I wander. You good with that?

* ee cummings