Saturday, January 7
4,917.1 miles from home…
I dropped my oldest son, Michael, off near Nashville this past Monday. He flew out of Nashville for Chicago then to Madrid then to Rome on Tuesday. He’ll be spending the next five months in Rome as part of the study abroad program at the University of Tennessee as part of his fourth year in the school of architecture. (here’s a pic of him at the airport in Nashville. Notice the Cubs hat)
He and 7 others from UT will be staying just 18 blocks from the Vatican. (I’m hoping Michael is able to hang out with the Pope soon and hand deliver the copy of “Love Wins” that I gave him especially for the holy father.)
Obviously, this is a chance of a lifetime for Michael and we’re so stinking excited for him…AND, at the same time, especially for those of you who know me, you know that’s it’s a tough thing to send my son off some 4,917.1 miles away. (excuse me a second while I take a deep breath after typing that number)
We miss him already, obviously, but besides the missing him because he’s away, I find myself with a great sense of envy. How great would it be to spend 5 months in Italy, traveling Europe, seeing all those wonderful and majestic things, experiencing so many different cultures? I’d leave tomorrow if I could.
The phrase ‘study abroad’ was not even a part of my vocabulary when I was 22 years old. Even if it had been I wouldn’t have thought it was ‘for me’. At that space in life I wouldn’t have understood what an amazing adventure and experience it would have been to do something like that.
I’m so proud of my son for so many different things…and especially for realizing what it means to be aware and conscious and passionate about living such a good story.
Mark Nelson at 9:40 AM 0comments