Arthur is smart and is looking forward to this new chapter. He’s ready to let go of the home of his childhood, knowing that he gets to bounce back for holidays and vacations. He loves the mountains and is confident in his choice of school.He knows he’ll miss his high school friends and he’s planning to attempt a long-distance relationship with the adorable Joscey.

Apparently his roommate intends to try the long-distance girlfriend thing, too. They had quite a texting session the other night during which they pledged to watch each other’s backs. They already intend to have a spectacular room together, Arthur bringing a big stereo and a small couch. He was delighted to learn that his Vietnamese roommate who currently lives in Shanghai, China, has already put up two Chinese paintings and a Pink Floyd poster.

“Yes, I put her out and now she’s in. Good night, Mom,” he replied.

“Good Morning, Arthur,” I shot back.

He snickered and said good morning. In my imagination I could clearly see the impish grin on his face, relieved that he apparently wasn’t in trouble, his mother too sleepy to be combative.Many friends and family members have extended well wishes, prayers, and support for Arthur’s departure to college. Many are asking how I’m doing. I’m really doing fine. I keep anticipating emotional moments that have yet to overwhelm me.

This departure feels like a natural progression. It has been The Plan for a while and we are executing The Plan together as a family, step by step.

I am excited for Arthur, remembering the new adventure of my own migration from Illinois to Minnesota to attend Macalester College in St.

This evening Dale and I headed for the river and took a sunset cruise in my boat with my dog. It was completely worth the trip in spite of the clammy, cool humidity. We saw a pair of proud American Bald Eagles on braches adjacent to their nest as they encouraged their young one to take off and fly.It was a significant learning moment for me. The fledging Eagle was shrieking and making a terrible racket. The parents, perched to either side and facing opposite directions, calmly looked on without comment. Finally the young one dropped from the tree and took flight. The parents never moved other than to turn their heads and watch, both remaining on branches near the nest. We saw the young one about five minutes later gliding over the river, headed back toward the nest, fully confident of a welcome home.

I hope I can maintain my calm, non-anxious presence as we deposit Arthur out of the nest this weekend.

I’m SOOOOoooo glad Dale and took that boat ride tonight. I am so thankful for this huge river that blesses my life with lessons and peace and wonder.

“MOM! Where’s my tent?”

“Ummm, in the back of your car? That’s where I remember putting it,” I responded. But I had a funny feeling about it, so I went downstairs and started checking some of the camping stuff stashed in the laundry room. Sure enough, it was in a dry bag from when we’d been out on the river.

We got Arthur squared away with his tent, some Thermarest and Coleman sleeping pads, sleeping bags, and a fashlight.He was off to spend the night somewhere on Luke’s farm with their buddy John. It was their last night with the three together before Arthur and John leave town for college. I’m glad they seized the moment.

Arthur checked in to let us know that his girlfriend’s mother was making supper for them. Very thoughtful. Very sweet. He came home after dinner to finish packing. He’s got all of his stuff contained in the following manner:
5 stacking plastic tubs with lids
2 duffle bags
2 backpacks
1 stuff sack
1 Grizz Box (doubles as a chuck box/end table)
1 ski bag
1 ski boot bag
1 helmet bag
1 printer in it’s original box
1 office box
1 dish tub
1 carboard box for last minute stuff
and a small couch.

It is my sincere hope that he can get it all crammed into the back of Grampa’s pickup, which happens to be a four-seater cab, but a short box.

I’m challenged with the transition from floods to fire. I pray all will be well in the morning.
food Bronwyn of Blogwyn at 10:21 PM 0 grey
Thursday, August 23, 2007
No Days Left

Today is the day we go.

Arthur made it home safely around 4:45 a.m. The dog didn’t even grumble.

Just as we’re getting used to his night owl hours, he’s leaving.

He leaves behind a messy room, his car, his best friend, and his girlfriend.Last night he said he was “kind of excited” about moving out.

So here we go - halfway to an empty nest.

I wish I was an Eagle . . .
food Bronwyn of Blogwyn at 8:32 AM 0 grey
Labels: College Countdown
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
One Day Left
Last night Arthur and I cleaned out his closet and sorted through his “desk.” It was fun discovering some of the junk from his childhood. It was also amazing to see how much trash this teenager has stowed away in his room over the 10 years he’s lived there!

After we got a good amount of sorting and packing accomplished, and some laundry started, he took off with some friends.

“Dale, read this.”

His face fell and he walked straight to the Residence Assistant at the desk. I went outside to tend to the dog, practice my deep breathing and relaxation, still too pissed to even attempt a prayer.

We were warned by administration officials in JUNE that this might happen due to the fact that the Financial Aid, Scholarship, and Loan information may not be as quick as the class registration computer.It softened the blow no less.

What a way to welcome a kid from 1200 miles away. His first piece of mail is crap about hassle with classes and money. UNBELIEVABLE!

I’ve had two beers, two long walks, two encounters with beautiful whitetail deer in the woods behind the hotel, and I’m still all energized and heated up about it.

I’m trying really hard to not be a “Helicopter parent.” But shit like this just infuriates me. It is counter to EVERYTHING they talked about in the way of welcome, and hospitality, and “helping transition your child into independent life in college.

After checking in to the hotel we headed over to campus and met Arthur’s roommate, who introduced himself as “Jae.” He’s very good looking, polite, helpful, and fluent in English, although he admitted that our currency and a few words trip him up now and then. I think they’ll get along just fine.

As we were departing for dinner Arthur checked his mailbox. It had an orange card in it that said . . .

“Your classes have been canceled due to . . . ”

I haven’t had an anxiety attack in a good long time, even driving across tall, old, bridges in Minnesota.

Yesterday afternoon we departed with final stops for lunch at Grand Ole Creamery with Lynn, and a sweatshirt delivery and hug goodbye for Joscey the GF.Then we were off, departing Hastings around 3 p.m. We were only three hours behind our target departure time. Not bad.

We had rain and horrible traffic on our way out of the metro area. It was perfect for reading the final installment of Harry Potter. We have read the previous six books aloud together over the years. We decided this summer that reading “The Deathly Hallows” in the same family fashion would be a cool thing to do the summer before Arthur departed for college. So we began reading at 3 a.m. the night we acquired the volume from Barnes & Noble in Apple Valley.

Trying to do bedtime story style reading with teenage boys is a whole different challenge than reading “The Half Blood Prince” over two years ago before the boys had a social life, transportation, and girlfriends! So it’s taken us the whole summer to get to page 457.

We made it home around 3 p.m. It was too late in the day for a nap, so we headed for the river. Tom and Beth joined us and we went back to the Eagle nest. The young one was flying around, checking us out, and making some noise. Mom and Dad were no where to be seen. The young one must be old enough to leave home alone and Mom and Dad were out on a date. It was a beautiful evening for it. The stunning sunset was immediately followed by an equally spectacular moonrise.

Dale and Joren and I had a largely uneventful Road Trip home. We opted for a “balls to the walls” trip home, copping a two hour nap at a rest area at dawn. We played a little bit of “Sunset with Dave Letterman” while still in Montana. We tossed a watermelon out of the truck window on a desolate piece of I94 in eastern Montana while traveling 80 miles per hour.It was a spectacular scene, but the noise it made was the best. Joren does a pretty good imitation. Next time we pull a stunt like that we’ll video so we can make a UTube segment.

The Puppy Dog, Nessie, proved to be a great road-tripper. She was no problem at all and provided good muscle stretching at our gas and food stops.

Every trip we stop somewhere along the way and learn something. This time we noticed an interesting piece of functional looking art near a truck stop somewhere between Fergus Falls and Alexandria.