Editor's note: Honolulu Advertiser sports writer and blogger Stephen Tsai gave his blessings for HawaiiMoms.com to reproduce a column he recently wrote for his blog on HawaiiWarriorBeat.com.

Everybody knew it was a bad idea.

Family. Friends. Co-workers.

But I insisted it would be different this time, not like in 2003, when I dropped off my eldest daughter at college. It was a wail, witnesses said of that goodbye. The wife, quite stunned, just said: "Shiver-me-timbers!"

And now I was going to drop off my middle child.

Alone.

"Shiver-me-timbers," said Dr. Jayna Chung, my cousin-in-law.

Bad idea, everybody else said.

We "gray-shirted" her because it would be difficult to pay for two out-of-state tuitions on a blog host's salary. Waiting a semester, I thought, would make it an easier goodbye.

I should have known better.

This one was our miracle child.

She was born with only one functioning kidney. We weren't sure she would live. We were told she would never be able to play sports. There were trips to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, where we were reacquainted with Augie Tulba, a maintenance worker who went on to become Augie T.

Every morning and every night I prayed for her good health — for 18 years. It must have worked. She played volleyball and basketball in high school. She received good grades. She made close friends — Aaron, Kaliko, Esther, Ruby, Rico, Tyler, Chad Y., Jimmy, Scott. She's an inch taller than her mother.

Every child is unique, and a parent bonds with each in a different way. She was the one who raised me. She made sure I took my heart medicine every night. She left notes in my travel bag when I went on football trips. She taught me the Electric Slide.

The first couple of days at the college were easy. We paid the tuition (OK, that almost brought me to tears). We set up a checking account, went shopping, ate at Darcel and Brea's house.

But then it was time to say goodbye.

No wailing this time, I promised myself.

Take your heart medicine, she insisted.

I thought of things that would not stir emotions: Beets, editors, the time I walked into the referee's room and saw a nekked Moose Stubing.

None of that worked.

Shiver-me-timbers.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.