A bit emotional....

[Pooge]

Well, I put my 18 year old son on a plane to Alaska this morning. The plans are for him to stay with a friend of mine in Chugiak and fish for the next month and a half and then come home (gee, that must stink eh?). Truth be told, I dont think he will come home at all. He has been offered the opportuity to potentially stay at my friends if he finds he likes it up there. There are opportunities for him to work on the Kenai River as a guides assistant towards the end of the summer and then he can finish high school this fall/winter and start college at the University of Alaska next year after working all spring / summer guiding. This is my oldest child and the first time he has ventured out of the nest for this long, and possibly for good. I am excited for him and sad as well. At least I should get a cooler full of salmon... ;)

[WBBP]

Look at it like this. As hard as it is, it is a special chance for him to see the world and grow. He will be fine. Tell him we said good luck.

K

[Highbow]

Pooge, that will be a big difference from Louisville. Maybe it will work out for the best either way. I wish him luck.

[john4]

Wait till the mosquitos get him, he'll be ready to come home.

Naw, seriously, I bet it's an emotional time for your family. It's hard for me to imagine right now as both my sons are under 2.

What kind of fishing will he be doing in Chugiak? Commercial fishing on a boat or rod and reel fishing as a guide? I know you mention guiding for later in the summer.

Sounds like a great experience for him. I am envious of him, he's young, and heading to last frontier. What could be better?

I've heard many a man say "I'll go to Alaska and work as a guide or on a fishing boat, make a bunch of $$ yadda yadda yadda". And before long that same guy is married, got kids, got a job, aged 15 years and is no longer able to put all his possessions in a duffle bag and go. He's not talking about it, he's doing it and it sounds great! Good Luck to him

[trust me]

I had the chance to go to Australia as a youngster and passed it up. Wonder what life would be like if I'd gone. Your boy might come back in a year or two and resume his previous life, or he may make a go up there and stay. Either way, he's got a whole set of experiences he wouldn't have had otherwise. I say go for it.

[C.L.Button]

What a great place to start life as an adult. It will teach him many of lifes lessons. Now you will always have an excuse to go visit him ! I'm happy for him but I feel your pain. It will work out.

[AteUp]

Wonder if there's really 25 men to every one woman up there?:eek:

[bspring]

He will get to see some things most will never get to. Hope he enjoys it and makes the best of this opp.

[3toes]

Pooge, I am feeling a little bit of what you are going through. This is my son's last week home before going to college. This is my last child at home so we will have an empty nest. It is sad but also a lifetime of opportunity. He will be fine as I am sure you have prepared him well.
This will be just the first of many of life's journeys for him, just allow him to be his own person & support him in every way possible. Be there when he needs guidance. Remember you have been his role model and got him this far and I am sure he remembers that. All will be ok.Now you have a place to go on vacation!!:)

Will keep you & your family in prayer.

[daking]

Pooge, I kind of felt that way when I sent E off to college last year. P will be going to Florida for college, so that will be even more difficult.

Think of it this way. Everything we do in raising our kids is like practice. We drill them on the fundamentals. We teach them the rules of the game. We teach them to love what they do. It's good, but it's all practice. Today is game day. Your boy is now going to do exactly what you prepared him to do, what he was taught to do. You can practice forever, but sooner or later, it's a waste of time until you get into the game.

I'm pulling for you and him. He'll do fine. You will too, because he's living the life you helped him build. Go see him when he gets settled. You'll both be happy campers.

T

[lymanl3]

I am sure ol' T is having a good time! Tell him to take lots of pics, bring back some salmon and lots of good stories!

Lyman