He leaned his head against the window as the plane powered up for takeoff, and when the ground slipped away, his face split into a familiar grin. At 21, our son Alex was enjoying his first flight. While it was fun to share the experience with him, my feelings were decidedly mixed. Derek and I were taking him to his new home in Houston. I’m not a newbie when it comes to kids leaving the nest, but I’ve never had a son fly so far. Alex and his older brother, Ethan, 24, have always lived within a few miles of the family home. Houston is 2,123 miles from Spokane by car. I know. I checked. The fact that this is the right choice for Alex and a great opportunity for him didn’t dull the ache in my heart. Flying is expensive and time-consuming, and it will probably be a year before we see him again/Cindy Hval, SR Front Porch. More here.

DFO: I remember how awful I felt when my son told me that he'd been accepted for his medical residency by the University of Florida. We were hoping he'd land in Portland or Seattle. Florida? He couldn't have gotten a residency match further from us. But we've adjusted, esp. during the winters.

Question: Have you had a youngster fly the coop far, far away?