My terrific daughter Elisabeth put her request in last week and tweaked it early yesterday, discovering that she’d been tardy by 30 minutes in the original.
So I set my iPhone 6 alarm to 6:30 a.m. as a fail safe, even though I was fairly certain I’d be bright and smiling for her 7:30 arrival today at the Little Bitty in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood.
Dad was needed for a drop-off for daughter’s first clinical this semester during her two-year major to become a physical therapist assistant. Destination downtown, to St. Joseph’s, a sprawling complex to which she was unsure of the side-street, alternate-side availability, and surely did not want to muck around on Day One of 14 in-hospital sessions.
Ready to administer physical therapy.
Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle was thrilled to see her so early in the morning, and did much jumping up to prove it. Elisabeth said she brought her lint roller because she knew she’d be greeted with such enthusiasm.
Last semester, her first of four after returning to Onondaga Community College with her bachelor’s degree in biology from State University of New York at Oneonta in hand, Elisabeth served her clinical at James Square, a home for seniors. She enjoyed it, and it was part of a high-honors return to full-time education while continuing to hold down her 30-hours-per job at the orthopedic practice in the village of Hamilton, where she resides with her mother.
Yes, I’m a proud papa.
On the less-than-three-mile drive down James Street, we talked about Saturday night’s upcoming Doggie Night at the Syracuse Crunch hockey game. We’re taking Ellie B, seven tickets in hand for the pooch plus myself and dear wife Karen, Elisabeth and great boyfriend George Three, and his parents, George Two and Sue. We figured it best to all meet outside the arena a half hour before game time, because eager Ellie B would preclude tailgating.
When I made the right off James, Elisabeth spied that near neighborhood parking and began thinking that maybe it would be possible for her future sessions. Good. The teacher had told them the parking garage would charge them $11. Too much for students, even if the four of them taking the clinical car-pooled.
A great day to start clinical.
Elisabeth was still smiling after I pulled past the front circle to a spot where I could safely park and jump out of the car to take a shot with my iPhone 6 to chronicle her first day at St. Joseph’s. I waved her off to great things.
Then I turned and took a shot of downtown Syracuse in the other direction to share with my Photo 101 mates.
Tuesday morning, March 24, 14 F.
Let’s call it a city landscape, spring on chill.
Have you proudly driven a child to an event lately, and if so, what? On-street parking, in the garage, or ask me to drive the rest of the semester? What’s your favorite photo of the three, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
Congratulations to Elisabeth! How’s it going for her?
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She likes the clinical this semester, Cat, but truly can’t wait to get the classes done so she can do the work for real! Thanks, I’ll pass your congratulations along.
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Wonderful photos Mark. Your daughter looks great and so happy. it is very uplifting to see someone starting a new chapter in their lives. Thanks for sharing.
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Of course, Paul, I’m happy to share this happy time with my daughter with my friends.
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Aww, Mark, Elisabeth is gorgeous and she looks so much like you! I love your Proud Papa Moment! ❤ My favorite is the photo of her in front of the hospital. Yes, I think you should drive her the rest of the semester. What a sweet bonding time! You're a lucky man! Oh, and how cool about the doggie night! I ❤ Syracuse!
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She does look like me, in a good way, I think, Rachel. Thank you! Tonight is doggie hockey game night. Yay!
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You have a beautiful daughter! Good Luck to her and cheers to her proud Pappa!
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Thanks, Nancy. She’s a great daughter. 🙂
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Any picture you post of a smiling student named Elisabeth gets my vote. Well done and the very best of luck to her. You have every reason to be proud, Pappa.
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Thanks, Red. She’s a good one. 🙂
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I like the second one best. Your beautiful daughter is the only person on the street! Must really be early! 🙂 It reminds me of prideful/painful moments of my own children “growing and going away in person to remain as memories in my heart., who come home, BTW, as often as they can.”
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I’m glad they come home as often as they can, Freeda. My daughter lives at her mom’s, 40 miles down the road, but she’s up here a lot, most thankfully.
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We have one who lives close, like next door? (absolutely wonderful) and one lives sixty miles along the road, the other two are Texans and Kansans.
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My dear wife Karen’s son lives 25 miles away and my daughter is 40, so they are both pretty close. The two of your’s in other state? That’s far!
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Too far. 😦
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love that you’re still taking “first day of school” photos 🙂 You’ve every reason to be proud, Mark. She’ll do amazing things just like her papa!
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She’s in grade 18, and still happy, therefore, so am I, Liz. 🙂
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I like Elizabeth at the hospital picture. It’s like standing in front of school on her first day of school. And if Papa is willing to drive every day I’d have proud papa driving me in so I didn’t have to park or pay to park!!! 🙂 What a great day for you both!
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Yeah, the turns-25-in April girl will try to find on-street parking herself on Thursday. If that doesn’t work out, Dad will come back into play, MBC. I would say gadly but it would be more … dadly.
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Well, she’s going to try, kudos to her.
You’re going to be dadly in the waiting, kudos to you.
And I loved the last line, made me chuckle MBM. 😉
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This is a great post, Mark. I like to hear details about Elisabeth’s accomplishments and this is a huge adventure and a wonderful opportunity. This will be something you both will remember for a long time. She asked you to be there, so your were. Wow! Parents still are needed and you need to respond like you did. I cannot choose a favorite photo today. They are special and she is special. You were always there as parents, you and Karen, now you have something to brag and be proud about.
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Yes, always, Robin. 🙂
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Drove the kindergartner to meet his teacher at the gifted school where he’ll take classes every tuesday. He’s only in kindergarten, but I’m still proud of him for testing into it on his own. Good luck to your little one!
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Don, yay for your guy! Yeah, look at my little one now, my friend. Ace is going to be this age before you know it, dude.
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Elisabeth is well-loved and it shows, Mark. Proud papa? You bet!
When our daughter, Devin, went to ASU she lived in a home that we owned and rented to her and her friends. You could say that Dave was the house father. They all graduated and he no longer gets the midnight calls and gives emergency rides…and he misses it ❤ Enjoy 😀
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I can tell Devin turned out right from her blog. And because she is a journalist for two great parents. ❤ Thanks, Angie McFly, for seeing the good in Elisabeth here.
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You have every reason to be proud of your lovely daughter, Mr. B. I hope it all goes well for her. You are a padre muy bueno. 🙂
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Gracias, Mrs. B. You are at this similar stage with your two, proud mami. ❤
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Mrs. B, I found a like from this blogger on my photo post today and thought I should pass the link to you because it’s your beloved home kissing island and her photographs are beautiful. I hope you enjoy, mi amiga.
https://picturepuertorico.wordpress.com
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Ahhhhhh!! Gracias Mr B, I never get tired of looking at pics of mi isla 😀
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De nada, my chica. 🙂
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I am loving her first day of clinicals! Woo Hoo!!!!
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Isn’t it great, Colleen, how she’s on her way to doing something she absolutely loves? I’m so happy that she’s found that in life.
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It is rare indeed. Much happiness to your daughter. 💖
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Cheers for Elisabeth and you, Mark! Wherever I drive my son Aaron these days I feel a combination of pride, gratitude, and a wish he had other ways of getting there. I am sure you’ll be getting a good report from your daughter soon. And I like seeing all your photos!
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Soon Aaron will be merely asking you for the car keys, Ann. Then, a car of his own. 😦
Elisabeth said the first day was very good. The complex is huge. All the teacher did was show them around. Next time, she is going to look for on-street parking, she says. 🙂
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Awww so sweet that you are brimming with pride!! Your daughter is a smart woman with a great head on her shoulders – awesome! You had to know I’d love knowing that!!
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Yes, Christy, she’s a great young woman to be proud of, for sure, and yes, I knew you’d take note of that one. 🙂
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Good luck to your beautiful daughter Mark and congrats to here loving dad for raising such a smart young lady. ❤
Diana xo
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Thank you, Diana. She turned out quite lovely in every way I can imagine, thanks to her mom, and her sister and brother, and her mom’s husband Barclay, and my dear wife Karen, as well. Elisabeth’s whole family of love from all around, in other words.
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It takes a whole village…
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In our world, yes it does. All you can do is your best and hope they know that. Thanks, Diana. 🙂 ❤
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I like the second photo best. The great outdoors & first day excitement and jitters. Best wishes to your daughter!
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Thanks, Nonny. I’m now looking forward to the 2:30 p.m. pickup and the full report on how it went. 🙂
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aawww – good luck!! XOXO – Bacon
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Thanks, Sizzling Strips!
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Congratulations and good luck to Elisabeth! She’ll do great, and you have every right to be a proud dad … she’s doing well and doing good. 🙂
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🙂 This is a profession that helps people, indeed, Jim. Thank you.
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Proudly driving my kids, not so proudly driving my kids, kind of annoyed while driving my kids…oy Mark, it never ends does it? But seriously, very happy that your daughter is making strides in her new career and seems like a worthwhile journey!
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Your kids are of the age where you have to drive them everywhere, and in LA, I suspect everywhere is a haul, Marissa. No wonder you get a bit weary sometimes. Yes, Elisabeth is logging a lot of miles in this educational journey. The end result after next school year is going to be very sweet, indeed. Thank you for coming along in the ride, today. Your similar satisfactions will be here before you know it, my friend.
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Oh, you mean like when they get their driver’s licenses? LOL
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Yeah, push them to that. Elisabeth got her learner’s permit on her eligibility birthday. Driving home from the DMV she looked over at me in the passenger seat and said, “I can see you grabbing ‘the oh, shit handle’ you know,” and I cracked up laughing, and I knew we would be fine. Knock on wood, nine years later, we still are.
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Ha, love it..the oh shit handle, I think my mother grabbed that many times. We’re still fine too!!
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I like all the photos but my favorite is the second one with all the buildings behind her and that big grin on her face. Beautiful young lady Mark!
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Thanks, PJ. She definitely is ready for the big day with a smile on her face. The medical center is an impressive buidling, too, I think.
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I know you are a proud papa and she is a beautiful young woman.
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You are right about me, and thank you, PJ. 🙂
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this is so great, and i’m proud of her too, vicariously. all will be worth it one day and you’ll be lucky to have someone to help with pt in the family as needed) i like the first one as she looks ready and so proud – as for driving/parking, i vote for letting her work it out with her carpool and pitch in to park cheaply, part of important life skills. you’ve gotten her off to a great start and she’ll only continue to grow from here )
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Thanks, Beth. I get proud when I read your posts about your daughters’ achievements, too, such as this week’s visit to her students. 🙂 I am very happy that Elisabeth will be able to twist me into shape forever more, you are right about that. I think the parking situation will result in on-street, figure out the proper side of the street. This start at 8 a.m. should get her there early enough for there to be open spots. Knock on wood. 🙂
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