Sonny Goes to College

It's taken me a few days to recover from Sunday and finally write this blog.

The van to take our son Mark to college wasn't very full.

That's because Sonny visited a friend at another college on Friday,

spent the night, but never slept.

He returned home at two in the afternoon and snoozed the rest of the day.

Of course, that means he accomplished NO packing!

Being the good, responsible mother, I resisted all urges to pack for him.

This meant on Sunday morning, he was pretty much tossing stuff into the back of the van.

He was SO excited to get to college.

I thought it would be an emotional day, but the temp blasted to 94-degrees

which pretty much zapped all of our energy.

We joined the other panting parents, staggering with the stuff up to the third floor.

It was exciting and scary to meet his new roommate.

I don't need to tell you that the quality of your roommate can make or break your college experience.

I was blessed with wonderful roommates who are still my best friends today.

But, I couldn't help thinking of my nephew Andy.

His roommate freshman year had social issues and only left the room to attend classes.

He also had bathing issues and quite frankly, he stunk.

Poor Andy is so compassionate, he stuck it out with Stinky all year.

Nobody would visit his room because...well, it was stinky!

I have to admit...when I first met Mark's new roomie Kris,

I took a little sniff.

I'm happy to report he did not stink...

In fact, he is very nice...and don't they look kind of like brothers?

He also has lovely parents who helped us unroll the carpet even though the room felt like a sauna.

The rooms in the freshman dorm are quite large and this one has hardwood floors.

No air-conditioning...did I mention it was in the 90s???

Hubby set up the computers, while Kris tackled erecting his TV stand.

The rest of us stood around and sweated.

I think I was becoming Stinky.

We were all relieved when everything was in the room.

The boys could sort it out later...when it's cooler...like this winter.

We were excited to check out the brand new cafeteria.

Holy-moly!!!!

It looked like every posh restaurant under one roof.

Hubby and I are thinking of moving into the dorm and

getting a second degree so we can eat here every meal.

I was just glad it was air-conditioned.

We felt good leaving him and managed to escape without crying.

I don't think we had any liquid left in our sweltering bodies to produce tears.

We drove over to check out Lindsay's apartment.

The boys were envious of the space,

and the kitchen looks nice.

But the girls found a BAT in the apartment the first week!!

They shooed it out, but the next day it was back...or maybe it was the cousin or uncle.

Does the bat have extended family hiding in their apartment???

On the kitchen counter, I read a note the girls left for the exterminator:

Please, do something about the centipedes, too!

Lovely.

Ahhh...college life...

But she does finally has her own bedroom!

Hubby and I drove home...glad that their messes were going to college, too...

and hoping the bats weren't following us home.

This morning, I walked by Mark's empty bedroom and peeked in.

HOLY COW!!  I forgot it had moss green carpet.

Where was the mess??

Hubby took me out on a dinner date the first night of our empty nest.

We were seated next to a long table hopping with kiddies.

The wired parents were wiping mouths and messes, and looked pretty harried.

Maybe this empty nest thing won't be so bad after all.

But WHEN is my son going to call???