A Brave New World

My big girl now is the proud owner of a cell phone. It is probably not a big deal in the grand scheme of her life and many of her friends are seasoned pros-one even bought her own laptop that she covorts with in the privacy of her room. So why does it make me fearful? Is it just another reminder of the ticking clock on her childhood? Is it that I feel she is now exposed to certain unforseen (and forseen/imagined) dangers? Or is it simply that she is now one more step away from the warmth of my arms and out into a Brave New World of independant living?
When I was her age I got my first job-giving out samples of fudge at the flea market on Sundays. I got myself around town by bus and took myself to whatever educational and social events that my parents were unwilling to participate in. I was insecure about being on my own, but travelled solo anyway. I was a bit of a lone wolf-one could be in those days when leaving the house meant being incummunicado unitl the nearest payphone was located.
It is an understatement to say that life is so different now-and man how old does even thinming way make me feel?? But she is such a butterfly in so many ways-social, physical, emotional (by that I mean the type of insect that looks delicate but flies 3000 miles twice a year to get to the holy ground, fierce). She is a product of her times but she is also an agent of them and is not completely subject to its pressures. She stills giggles and runs around the house telling fart jokes. She wants to be cuddled at night and hates sleeping alone-even if it means sharing the bed with the little one. She eats canned tomato soup and dances on her bed using a hairbrush as a microphone. She's still little a bit, I still have a bit of time with her.