We set off around the usual time we'd leave for school last year and saw younger kids waiting on the corner for the school bus... so that was poignant. We took the fork in the road.
And it continued to feel surreal. The kids remarked that I usually don't follow the posted speed limit quite so precisely. (The joke being that I was going slower than I usually would as if to stave off the inevitable.)
But our conversations were very light. I think all the serious stuff has already been said before. Today, I was struck by the clever wordplay in Chappell Roan's new song when it veers between "She's got a way" and "she got away." Nu good-naturedly rolled their eyes at that, so things felt more normal then. When we got to At's playlist, we found that she had Audioslave and Hole on there after finding them on an I-Pod she had inherited from me a long time ago.
We got to school, got a hero's welcome complete with pom-poms and cheerful helpers, dropped stuff off, said hello to Nu's roomie and their parents, got a big breakfast in town, and checked in on the family picnic. Nu insisted that they did not need (or want) help unpacking, (classic "I do it myself" Nu since they were about 18 months old), so we got some selfies and said goodbye.
Pic: A series of At, me, Nu, and Big A. I couldn't pick just one!
4 comments:
Awww! Such a big day! Mark also refused any help for setting things up and in second year, just drove his own stuff to his place - I never did see that one! He did allow me to come and see his latest (third!) apartment just off of campus though. Those independent kids of ours!
Nice.
I love the selfies. And yes, they want to unpack themselves! I hope the roommate is a good one, too. (I would have driven like an old person. Wait. I AM an old person! But I would have extended this as long as possible.)
This was a joyful day! Nu was ready and happy for this next step in their life, and the whole family was there for support and a loving send-off. I love the photos. And I love the air of independence and family love. Just Perfect!
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