It’s been a decade since last I wrote, and, wow, a lot has happened within that time. People always ask you what your “5-year plan” is, but 5 years go by in the blink of an eye and so do 10, and things you had planned or thought you wanted can change just as quickly.

Like kids.

They grow up so damn fast. (And yes, that’s a curse word right there because the level of fastness they use while growing up deserves more than a darn.)

And that brings me to Shazam.

When last we visited, Shazam (aka Ultra G) was 10 and had just been growing out of his stage of terror. Because that boy was a handful. I loved every single piece of him, but, man, he knew allllll of my buttons and pushed them all day, every day.

Today, Shazam is about to turn 20 in just a little over a week. TWENTY.

That’s like an adult age.

And with being 20 comes choices and decisions about what you’re going to do with your life.

And Shazam has chosen to go into the Air Force.

To say I’m proud doesn’t really even begin to describe it. But to say I’m sad? Well, that doesn’t really begin to describe it either.

We have two and a half weeks left with him before he ships off to basic training in San Antonio. 18 days is NOT. ENOUGH. TIME.

Where has the time GONE?!

Life is about to change in some big, big ways. And I’m not ready. How do families who sent their kids off to the military do this?!

The sadness is overwhelming.

And it’s all because Shazam is leaving.