My baby girl is leaving—again.
That’s right, Vicky—the youngest of our three daughters—is heading off into the sunset next week on her latest adventure, this time to a summer camp in Oklahoma where she has been hired to teach young Girl Scouts the ins and outs of horse riding and grooming.
Of the three daughters and a son that my wife and I have, Vicky has always been the adventurous one. My wife likes to say she is our “free spirit.”
I can tell Vicky likes having that reputation—it goes nicely with all her tattoos—and yes, she has a bunch. But it really is true, she has been a child to show no fear to try anything and that is something I admire about her.
About 12 years ago we took Vicky to Nashville, Tenn. and we were heading out of the city, with Vicky in the backseat, we will never forget the shocking comment she threw our way as we got on the interstate to leave.
“When I finish high school next year I’m moving here.”
My wife and I looked at each other in disbelief. Did she really just say that? She was 17 at the time and our third home-schooled kid, so her statement didn’t fall into line with what many assume about ‘unsocialized” homeschoolers.
OK, that’s a joke, but the truth is that most people who are unfamiliar with homeschooling seem to have a common statement when you first mention that you homeschooled your kids.
“Will they be socialized?”
After 25 years of hearing that comment I now find it amusing since many of these kids are actually MORE socialized than kids who go to regular school. After all, who are they around most of the time? Parents! Yes, parents who teach them social skills, good manners and how to be respectful to others.
But back to the real topic—Vicky simply stated that she was moving to Nashville.
And guess what? A year later she was packed up and moving to Nashville, where she started college and lived for a couple of years before deciding it wasn’t too bad being back near her family. Since then she has lived here in Louisiana, graduated from college and worked pretty normal jobs, still looking for the “thing” that she was really interested in.
For Vicky, that would be music or horses. So a year ago she was getting antsy again and started putting out resumes anywhere in the country for a job that would light a fire under her life plans. The job in Oklahoma came her way and she immediately said, “I’m going to Oklahoma.” Surprise, surprise.
Fortunately, and I really mean that, it just so happens to be within an hour of where my son Michael moved when he graduated since he found a young lady he liked a lot who lived there. They are now two years into a very happy marriage and he has an awesome job as a computer tech and his wife, Lauren has a great job as well, so thankfully they are doing just fine.
Vicky will be near them, which softens the blow of her leaving a little bit, but not nearly as much as we would like since she is going to be missed very badly by us all.
When she had her final night at Slidell Memorial, in the emergency room where she worked, it was a long night of goodbyes (she worked the midnight shift). She was treated so well by everyone and clearly is going to missed—again, because she is a fun one to be around.
But that is not a surprise since we all feel the same way. As I said, she is the girl who is living life to the fullest even though she really doesn’t have the money to do it!
Four years ago she announced she had spent her tax refund on a trip to Ireland. Then two years later she went to Greece, once again using her tax refund. Trust me folks, no one is handing her money for these things and she is like many of us—living paycheck to paycheck. But she always said she wanted to enjoy life to the fullest and she seems to find a way to do that.
So we are into the final days of Vicky preparing for her next adventure and I probably don’t have to tell you there is sadness among my wife and daughters, not to mention myself. I will miss her coming to our house at 7:15 a.m. after finishing her late shift, and the two of us sitting in my office chatting.
I know my wife is holding in her feelings and trying to put on a happy face, as is her closest sister Jenny, since they always go through a difficult time when she is gone. And don’t get me started on Jenny’s kids, who absolutely love Aunt Vicky.
For me, I am the dad. I’m the guy who never cries and kiddingly says “I’m a cold person” because I don’t show the emotion I am feeling. But that’s because I am happy for her going after what she wants. I pray to God that it is the first step in finding the mate God has for her, and the job she will be happy with.
As a dad that is all you really want for your kids. Help them grow up to take on life and win. For Vicky, she will always be someone who is unafraid of anything new, and that is why I truly believe she will find happiness in the Oklahoma hills. So I know she is already a winner.
Love you Vickers.
Kevin Chiri can be reached by e-mail at kevinchiri@gmail.com.