Une Envie de Sel

 My intrepid adventurer.

Is it me, or does she take after my mother?

 Here she is, scaling the free-climbing rock at REI...yes, in a dress, and rubber sandals.

 Sigh. 

Does this make me a bad mother?

 Sure, I used to stand under her with both hands hovering an inch from her posterior. But these days, she is so very independent and sure-footed. 

"No, mommy!" she says, pointing to the curb, "You stay riiiiight there! I do it ALL BY."

 And clearly, she can do it "all by". And then some.

 It's only a matter of time before I'm obsolete, like last year's iPhone. 

Because, as anyone can see, there she is, all the way up there, all by herself in her dress and sandals - with no help whatsoever from me.

 In my defense, the reason she was wearing a dress and rubber sandals is that we were on our way to the confluence to do some pre-season wading.

 Which we proceeded to do. 

Or, more accurately, she proceeded to do. Since I, after all, am merely the woman behind the camera.

 Oh, yes, she is very near to being launched into the world on her own.

Near...but I still have a few years left. A few precious, priceless years. 

Just let me enjoy them, please!