I wasn't prepared for the way I felt when my 18-year-old son, Dylan, left for Asia during his winter break.
I was 1 the moment he first told my husband Michael and me that he wanted to use some of his 2 to travel around China. We were excited for him to explore the world. We told him that3 was one of the best ways to spend his money and the 4 will last a lifetime.
On the morning of Dylan's departure, he5 a few more things into his bag. Before he and Michael 6to the airport, I yelled, “Be safe, and 7 when you arrive in Shanghai.”
That night 8 he was flying somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, it hit me that Dylan was really on his9I woke hourly, each time 10the clock and counting the hours before he would land the following morning.11 my decision to let him go alone, I prayed,and thought about all the things that could go 12 Then I heard from him. The first text said he'd arrived. The second text said his luggage didn't 13 it.
Feeling anxious, I madly attempted to 14 down his luggage. To search for lost baggage, I persuaded him to go back to the 15 and suggested he go to the airline's office. My efforts 16 All the while Dylan was texting me he was all right.
After that, there was no more 17 about lost luggage. I knew that he'd figure it out, and that the life lessons would be18.
Several days into the trip, Dylan sent a photo from Hong Kong. “I thought I could never study abroad anywhere but Europe19 I could definitely do it here.” his note read.
And I was 20