On the other side

August 21, 2013.  The day Patrick moved into Calhoun Hall & our lives changed.  Yet again.  I guess I haven't quite accepted the fact that life is really just a series of changes.  Most of which turn out to be very very good.  I am so proud of this kid.  He's smart and funny ~ and has so much ahead of him.  The trip to UC seemed to take forever ~ a major truck fire clean up, construction, lots of traffic...so as it approached noon, we decided it would be smarter to eat first & unload second.  So we found {after many attempts} a Cracker Barrel.  Jacob and I worked on the "you are smart" puzzle.  Jacob finally got it down to two pegs.

The first time I tried I was an "eg-no-ra-moose" with five pegs left.  The second time ~ WINNER ~ I took a picture to prove it.  And now I don't have to do that puzzle any more.

Then we went to campus...where the whole dropping off process is a well-oiled & smooth process.  You pull up, they help unload to the sidewalk.  You sign in and get a number & your key.  They call numbers & you load your stuff into a cart & get in line for the elevator.  This was all done while I searched the parking garage for a spot.  Then hiked up 6 flights of stairs...a number of times...

His room is in the corner & it is larger than most dorm rooms.  That was pretty sweet.  It also views campus & you can see the soccer field & most of the football field from the window.  It really is a great view.

We walked around campus & showed Jacob the cool view of the engineering buildings.

Then we left.

What kind of a mother just leaves her child in a strange place, with a stranger for a roommate?

I know, I know, but it's still selfishly difficult.

Endings always are.

But beginnings are wonderful & this is such a beginning for Patrick.

I will rejoice for him.

But I'm still a little sad.

Now I am on the other side of August 21, 2013.  The view is bittersweet.