No, not the “weird” that’s been featured in the most recent political news cycle.
Instead, our household has been preparing for my daughter Lilly‘s departure for her freshman year of college. That’s one of the reasons why the blog has been a little silent over the past few days. Heck, I got a new fishing rod in the mail on Tuesday and haven’t even opened the box…
Sorting through 18 years worth of our only child’s belongings, figuring out what goes with her, what stays behind, and what is just no longer needed is an undertaking. My wife K.C. has taken the lead, working with Lilly on organizing most of it. But physical possessions aside, it’s still a lot of memories and emotions to work through.
Lilly & I are going to depart just before dawn this upcoming Monday on a 13 hour, 900 mile road trip from Florida to Ohio. With pee, gas, and food breaks, it’ll be more likely 15+. And of course, all the items that were lucky enough to make the cut will be stowed in the back of our Honda CR-V. I think. We haven’t tried to cram them in the back quite yet.
If all goes well, we’ll meet up with K.C., who’s flying up, that evening at a hotel outside of campus.
We’ll help Lilly get her dorm room set up on Tuesday, and then that’s pretty much it. I’ll leave on Wednesday, my wife on Thursday, staying behind an extra day “just in case”. Our little family unit of three will be changed. Different.
I won’t be able to yell at Lilly to get out of bed in the morning, or to do her homework on a Sunday night, or pick up her dirty clothes from her bathroom floor. I also won’t be able to hear the giggles coming from her bedroom as she gossips with her friends, or see her face light up at the dinner table as she waxes on about theatre, or steal glances of her napping, snuggled up with a favorite “stuffie” on the loveseat in our living room. (Even today, that kid loves stuffed animals.) Maybe the worst, I won’t be able to steal a hug whenever I want.
Lilly’s our only child, and my little girl at that. I’ve seen her grow on a daily basis, so to this point change has been gradual and easy to accept. But, now she’s going to be growing totally out of sight in 5 or 6 month chunks. There’s no doubt she’ll be a different person when she comes home to visit during winter or (maybe) summer breaks. That’s going to be difficult. When I close my eyes she’s perpetually 5 years old.
I know our situation is not unique. Not by a longshot. All kids eventually grow up and leave home to blaze their own trails in life. And I definitely know this specific moment in time isn’t about my wife or I. It’s a super exciting time for Lilly, (perhaps mixed with a little bit of nervous uncertainty on her part), and we couldn’t be more excited and enthusiastic for her to take this next step into adulthood.
Still, does it mean I need to be ready for it? And in only three days? C’mon now. I have a feeling this upcoming week is going to be a little rough for ol’ Dad, so wish me luck. I think I’ll need it way more than Lilly. She’s got this.
Is that last picture the Washington DC metro? I’m just outside the city (the real estate listing would read “one light to WDC!”).
Great eye! If I recall we took the metro to the zoo.