Where is the "good" in good-bye?

In honor or all the back to school families, I give you my sweet boy. 
The one who made our nest empty, who flew the coop and took up residence in another state!
Still hard. Still bitter/sweet. Still, so right.

This was one year ago almost to the day....

Here I sit on the eve of taking our last child to that much anticipated, school of higher education...college. I have been blinking back tears for some time now, but now, no matter how fast I blink, the tears are flooding my eyes and rolling down my face. I can no longer deny this day away.

How am I here again already?
Having done this twice before, I know what to expect. I know how to do this.
I am all in. I cried tears of joy and sadness the last two times I have done this.
And yet, I still ache. 

Just 24 hours until we pull away from our driveway and make the long drive North and here I am questioning if I taught him all he needs to know. He left childhood behind and entered manhood all too quickly. That seems to happen to the last child faster, watching and learning from those who went before him. 
Can he stand shoulder to shoulder with other men? 
Will he remember all the values we tried to instill? 
Who will remind him to actually turn in his homework he worked so hard to complete? 
What if he doesn't call me every night? Well, not every night....perhaps once a week?...once a month?....who am I kidding! Every night! At least for the first week or two...or three. 
Ok, I'll take what I get. 

Packed and loaded up with everything a young collegiate could ever need. 
He graduated from wanting the little fundraiser mini fridge that every kid wanted to earn from magazine sales to the real, ice cold mini fridge to hold left over pizza and soda. 
Wait, leftovers?....yeah, strike that last sentence. 
There is never left over pizza!
Nothing says college life like a mini fridge! 

 And, we're off! 

 My favorite way to ride, the sun warming my legs and blue skies ahead.

 Look fast if you want to see the day go by. 
And, then just like that, it is time for our family kissy face photo right before we leave. 

Good-bye...not too fond of that greeting right about now. The only good bye that I like is a good buy. Much different. Where is the "good" in good-bye? Perhaps we should start our own new phrase like bad-bye or mediocre-bye or french fry...hey, it rhymed and, who doesn't love french fries anyway!

Good-bye? OK. He is super good after all. 

Tears commence at this point. Thanksgiving is only 60 days away!