I was was the kind of kid who never was attached at her mothers hip. I started going to over-night summer camp at the age of 8. I never cried when my parents left me with a babysitter. I was never the kid at sleepovers who had to call their parents to have them pick me up. By the time I got to high school, I was ready to take on the world. I went on an over seas trip to Japan at the age of 16. Without my parents.The 6,500 miles that separated me from home did not faze me at all. I loved it. At the age of 17 I went on a trip to Mexico without my parents. The trip was over 2 weeks and I was fine. I guess you could say I have always walked my own path. And for a long time, that was just fine by me. I liked being alone and independent. I liked making my own decisions about what to eat and what to buy and where to go. The idea of absolute freedom never frazzled me. Until it was time for me to go to college.

The morning I left for college I felt great. All my stuff was packed in our car, my mom bought donuts for my big breakfast send off, I said quick goodbyes to my room and all my favorite spots in my house, I said longer goodbyes to my 4 cats and the kids next door who I nanny for. The car ride there was good too. I was feeling excited. But the moment we pulled up to my hall, I felt like I was going to vomit. All of the things that I was excited about all of the sudden became very overwhelming to me. I quickly stood by my mother and attached myself at her hip, just like the child I never was. It was like I suddenly realized that maybe I really did need my mom. After a few hours of setting up my new home the time came to say goodbye. My mom sometimes calls me her scarecrow. This nickname is rooted in my deep love for The Wizard Of Oz, but it has a meaning. When Dorthy says her goodbyes to all of her friends from oz, she says goodbye to the scarecrow last and tells him " I think I'll miss you most of all." I am my moms first kid, and the scarecrow was Dorthy's first friend in Oz. My mom told me that I was her Scarecrow because I was the first one she met, and the hardest to say goodbye to. But in the moment when it was time to say goodbye I embodied the character of my beloved Dorthy, choosing my mom to hug last of all. She was the first one I met. And the hardest to say goodbye to. So maybe I really do need my mom. And after all of these years I realized that my mom is my scarecrow. And when it comes to goodbyes, she will always be the one I miss the most.