And So ......

...... it happened.

Son #3 is safely ensconced in school.
I survived.
He survived.
Though I'm sure that between the two of us ...... there were doubts.

I have a tradition that I've done with every one of my children.
The night before they went off to school/the Marines.
I started it with Daughter #1.
And so it continued.

Last Thursday was the last time I would ever do it.
Last Thursday, just like all of the previous "night befores" ...... I cried while I did it.

Every single one of my six children has sat very close to me ...... just the two of us ...... while I read this to them:

If you're familiar with this book you're probably crying right now.
Aren't you?
If you're not ...... go read it.
That's all I'm going to say about that.
Except this:  put a box of Kleenex next to you before you read it.

So yeah, six children sent off ...... six times I read that book aloud to them.
Six times I cried while I read it, while trying to NOT cry ...... while trying to not let each child know that I was failing at not crying.
You try it.
I dare you.

Anyway, the next morning Son #3 drove over to the frat house before I even woke up.  When I did wake up and discovered that he had left I immediately texted him to ask, "What the hay?!"
It seems that all he did was drive up.  His car was then emptied for him by the members who were there waiting.
I think it took all of 5 minutes.
At the most.

So he came to pick me up and take me to see the house.
Like most of the frat houses from my college days ...... it looked better downstairs than it did up.
You know ...... where the bedrooms are.
But they're boys so ...... they have simple needs.
ROFL!!

He showed me around the house and then a friend met up with us while I was helping the Son get unpacked.  We got his clothes hung up (which, interestingly enough, resulted in many more items hanging in that closet than he EVER hung up at home!), his bed made (top bunk), a "floating shelf" hung (so that he had somewhere to put his phone/clock/whatever up there next to that top bunk) and we went to get a mount for his TV, so that he could hang it on the wall and see it from his bed.
And let me just add this:  there are 3 other young men in that room.  Two sets of bunk beds.  Four people.
And three TV's.
Ummmmmm ...... yeah.

We worked to get things done until it was time for him to get ready for an event that was going on on campus.  It was for all of the fraternities and sororities.  It was very interesting to see them all walking across campus to this event ...... house by house, all dressed up in "business casual" (which I had to define for 2 of his room mates).
When it was time to go I walked into his closet (a huge closet for all 4 guys ..... really huge), told him that I loved him, and gave him a hug.
A very hard hug, which he returned.
Hard.
A very long hug, which he returned.
But for not as long.
I could not let go.

I've done this with 5 other children.
I've cried each time, but not so much in front of them.
I've hugged each of them hard.
And then cried hard as I walked/drove away.
But I was always able to let go.

Not this time.
Son #3 was a good sport.
He hugged hard and long.
And then he said, "OK".
I hugged longer.
And then he said, "OK".
I hugged longer and probably harder.
And then he said, "OK".

After the 3rd "OK" I let go.
And tried to not sob as I told him, again, that I loved him.  Very much.
And was proud of him.
And then I walked downstairs and out of the building, with my friend.
And kept trying to not sob.
I did ok.

We went to the Student Union so that I could purchase an "OSU Mom" shirt, something I never imagined I'd one day wear ...... back in my glory years there.
Or whatever they were.
This much I know:
They were terrific.
I loved those 4 years ...... fiercely.
I treasure the memories and the friendships I made.
And the love I found.

Speaking of those friendships, I'm meeting up with several friends for dinner tomorrow night and I am SO excited.
I love these women so very much.  They never fail to be excited and come out for dinner when I come to town.  They make me feel very, very special.
And very, very loved.
Which is why I can never move back here.
:)
If I lived here, I wouldn't be special and we wouldn't all meet up for dinner very often.  But if I visit a few times a year ...... we have a wonderful time.
I vote for wonderful.
:)

I'm staying with Vicki this week.  She's had to go to work every day, which has been good because I've had to work every day, too.  So we're both getting a lot done.
I did manage to sneak in a couple of hours of pool time this afternoon.  But it's all good because I had Skype meetings until almost midnight.
Thankfully, I love what I do.
And am blessed to be doing it.
:)

Son #3 started classes yesterday.  It seems that all is well.
We've texted a few times.
Son #2 is home, keeping the animals fed and content (I hope and pray).
I return home in a couple of days and then head to NY a few days after that.
For about 3 weeks.
I.
Am.
So.
Excited.
:)

I took Oliver to the vet and obtained sedatives for the flight.
I think they're for him.
But they may end up being for both of us.  Especially if they don't work so well on him.

Speaking of my big, close-to-fat (15 lbs) cat ...... while I've been writing this post the TV has been on the History Channel.
You used to know that if you watched that channel you'd most likely learn something.
It seems that times have changed.
There have been several episodes of a show called, "The Legend of Shelby the Swamp Man".
I have no idea why the word "legend" is in the title.
It seems to center around this insane man who lives down south, near a swamp, I guess ...... and shoots a gun at things like "spirits", snakes and gators.
Ummmmm, yeah.

But here's the point I wanted to make ...... which really isn't a point as much as an observation.
He was just in a house with a woman who was helping him to rid the home of "river rats".
Oh.
My.
Word.
I'd never seen river rats before.
Now I will never live close to a river.

This house contained 4 (FOUR) of these animals.  And they were HUGE!
They were much bigger than Oliver (which is what made me think of them .... writing about Oliver).
I'd say these rats were at least 30 lbs and as big as a medium sized dog.
Which begs the question ...... (actually, it begs LOTS of questions but I'll limit it to one) ...... how the heck did they get into the house (and do I even want to know the answer to that?)????
It seems the homeowners had abandoned the house until the Swamp Man could come in and shoot  capture the varmints.
He attempted to shoot them, but the woman who was helping him wouldn't let him do that.  She said that he couldn't shoot inside the house.
Bummer.

On a positive note ...... they did capture all 4 of those huge, ugly, too-gross-for-words monsters.

OK, it's now 1:35 in the morning.
I need some sleep.
And so do you if you're still with me.
:)

G'Night/G'Morning/G'Day, Peeps.
Happy Wednesday.
: )



P.S.  To Max:  thank you for your comment.  I'd like to hear more from you, if that's possible.