It feels so different this time. A fond, if sad, parting. A family that knows the prodigal son will return, sometime, at a time not too far distant, since this is home, since so much already has been earned. A family that is deeply grateful for all that has been given, and that freely wishes him well.
For LeBron James is permanently part of the fabric of this town, its heart and soul. Not just for what he's meant to Cleveland, Akron and Northeast Ohio, but also what he stands for -- self-made, centered and steady, family-oriented, hardworking and determined to give back not just to his hometown region but also to all those young men and boys who need a bit of a leg up so they also can learn and grow in life.