Kim Wilbanks

Well a man shall leave his mother, and a woman leave her home.                                 They shall travel on to where the two shall be as one.  

If you got married in the 1980’s or attended any weddings during that time period, you probably recognize the words from The Wedding Song (There Is Love) by Paul Stookey of the group Peter, Paul and Mary.  It was a part of my wedding ceremony.  I thought this phrase was from a Bible verse but it’s not.  I suppose Mr. Stookey may have been inspired by Genesis 2:24.

I don’t think my daughter has ever listened to the song, particularly the part about a woman leaving her home.  I get the importance of that.  It is every parent’s goal to raise independent, functioning adults.  Barring any restricting issues, they eventually need to leave the nest.

But, for goodness sakes!  It says a woman will leave her home — not her home, city, state and now country.  Seriously, are there no graduate schools in the USA?  I was just getting used to my daughter living in a different state.  Flight time to her college and subsequent hometown was a mere hour.  And, since it was the next time zone west, I always arrived at just about the same time I left.

My adventurous daughter and her husband got on a plane to Scotland a few days ago; four suitcases and two backpacks in tow.  They will reside in Edinburgh for a little over a year while she attends graduate school.  It’s five time zones away.  Five. And a long flight across the Atlantic.

It may sound like I’m complaining but I truly am excited for her.   What a marvelous adventure for a couple of newlyweds.  The timing is perfect.  I’m also a little envious.  They will be living in a beautiful old city full of history.  I have to admit, I am anxious as well.  There are a lot of miles separating us, 4,210 miles to be exact.  Thankfully, she has someone who loves her sharing the adventure.

I shouldn’t be surprised about her move.  She has wanderlust in her genes.  Her first trip out of the country was before her second birthday and she made nine more international trips by the time she graduated from high school.  Three of her four college Jan. terms were spent studying abroad.

So, no, I’m not surprised that my daughter is currently living in a different country for a season.  Luckily, my husband and I enjoy traveling so we are already planning a visit. Or two.  Can we make it three?  We just hope they move a little closer before they welcome any additions to the family, if you know what I mean.