By Tom Thomas –
Almost two years and three months to the day that I made the drive of hundreds of kilometers as an emergency due to COVID-19 shutdown to pick up my child, I undertook the same journey to drop him back today. The road has green scenery and new constructions here and there, the route is full of heavy traffic.
No longer a child now, but a man, it is in fact he who drives most of the way till he says almost three quarters of the way there “ Dad, I am tired, can you take over for a bit.” This response of his thrills me, as he has become a responsible driver now, unlike the past when he would try to push on, tired or not, with my foot beside him pressing the imaginary brake!
The training I have been able to give him over different routes, states and varied terrain over the past two years and three months has borne fruit. He can drive on his own anywhere now, he can be independent of me. So many things like this we did together in this period granted.
I reflect on the boon of the time that we had together on the journey to his campus. When we arrive, he remarks that the buildings look the same, though slightly worse for the wear, showing some signs of ageing.
I tell my son that the same applies to us too, we are the same and not yet the same, as Father Time has made his marks on all of us. Time. The one thing that keeps ticking on inexorably in all our lives.
My moments with my son over the past two years plus are gone and soon will be a memory only. It will probably never come again in our lives as he will go on to his pursue his career wherever in the world it takes him after completing his course on the campus.
COVID-19 era indeed had some unexpected positives. The thought of all those families who lost lives of their near and dear ones in this period also linger. One way or the other, the pause that COVID-19 brought in our lives will always remain with each one of us, a blip on the fast moving sands of time.
Never forget that life is precious, my heart tells my son, as we leave him on the campus . Driving back on the long journey home with my daughter for company, I am just so grateful for the time I had with my son. We understand each other better now, as we make our own ways through life.
A Blip makes a lot of difference. Grateful for the same.