Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Back to School 2017

it truly is the most wonderful time of the year.  Back to school day!  Sure, it's only one child this year.  But I will take it.  Back to normalcy.
     Coco did a great job.  He was up early.  On his own.  Got dressed.  Brushed teeth.  Brushed his hair.  He also wanted to go to school ten minutes early.  What a great way to start the year!

Friday, August 25, 2017

Week One

This is the first week without Caz.  It is different for sure.  It is still summer, so we don't have a routine to keep us occupied and diverted from change.  
     It is quieter.  There is no thundering of steps coming down the stairs.  Demi actually misses that already.
     There is no fighting over the bathroom.  Coco is still sleeping in, so we will have to see how the school morning routine goes. Coco won't ever admit he misses his brother.  In time, I bet he does.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Adjustment Period

It is certainly different without Caz in the house.  It is not a knock, but it is quieter.  There is no more thundering while descending a staircase.  There is no sibling rivalry.
     Dinner is a two on one.  Coco gets our undivided attention.  He may miss his deflector soon.  Not yet though.
     Sure, I am a little sad.  I miss Caz.  He makes me laugh.  But I am happy for him.  He is off on a whole new adventure.
     We will adjust.  It will take some time.  Things won't get back to normal.  We have to find a new normal.  That will take some time.

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Home Again

Demi and I came back from dropping off Caz.  The house was still standing, and relatively clean.  Same can be said of Coco & Gizmo.  They fared well taking care of the house and each other.  
     Caz ate dinner next door, at my parents one night.  Not a home cooked meal.  Probably better, if I polled Coco.  He is a fan of Papa Gino's.
     The nest surprise was Coco getting a job.  After 3 months in purgatory with Star Market and their "computer glitch ", it took all of three days for Coco to land a gig with Roche.  He was very proud of himself.  As he should be.  It is a big deal.  Demi and I were thrilled.

Friday, August 18, 2017

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye

We took Caz and Hunter out to dinner.  It's great Caz has a buddy from Duxbury there at Auburn with him.  Hunter is a nice kid.  We hit Moe's original BBQ.  Great place.  We drove them back to the dorm.  Demi and I had a few things to drop off with Caz.  Then the boys had some campus activity to get to.  The moment had arrived.  It was time to say goodbye to our first born.  It hit me pretty hard.  I held it together.  I knew it would be waterworks for Demi.  Caz grinned and bore it.  It went as well as it can.  Our boy is off on his own.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Move In Day

Today was the big day.  I expected chaos.  While there was some construction that was problematic and a bit of communication challenges, overall the process was smooth.  Really.  For a huge school,  this was methodical.  They had the sidewalks open for cars.  They had you park in front of the dorm.  They had you unload everything, then go park the car.  Caz and Demi got the keys and started moving stuff while I parked the car.  The directions to the Quad parking were lackluster but I found a spot eventually.
     I got back to move the last of the stuff.  Then the Nesting started.  I was smart enough to stay out of the way.  Caz was not.  Demi needed to do her thing.  That will probably be the only time the bed is made.
     We got to meet the roommate and his parents.  They couldn't have been nicer.  They parents went to Auburn.  The mom's family was still a mile away from campus.  Her college roommate was there dropping off her freshman daughter.  We all went out to lunch.  The kids ate at theirs own table.  Instant friends.  It was really nice.  Demi nested some more after lunch but we finally let Caz get started on dorm life.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Drop off 2017

The ship & cargo leave today.  Ok.  Fine.  Plane, not ship.  We ultimately decided to fly.  One the end, Caz only has three 50 lbs bags to take to Alabama.  He didn't need his TV but chose to ship it.  Demiput in an order of supplies to be picked up at Walmart in Auburn.  Flying saved us 17 hours in the car.
     It's real now.  Our little boy is leaving.  This will be a bittersweet trip.  It is the start of a new chapter in his story.  I am excited for him.  I am proud of him for getting here.  But I will miss him.  It's hard to believe he is grown up to this point.  Where did my little boy go?
     I will have to keep an eye on Demi.  She will have a hard time saying goodbye.  She will let him go in the end.  But it won't be easy.
   

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Packing

It's getting real now.  There are stacks of clothes everywhere.  The suitcases are out.  The college supplies are bundled together.  Our little boy is going off to college.
     Caz took his mom out yesterday afternoon.  They went down to the Plymouth waterfront.  Lunch was fried seafood at the Lobster Hut.  They walked the jetty, out into Plymouth bay.  Then, they got some ice cream.  I think Demi enjoyed every second.  She is going to miss him.  We all are.
     I know I am having my moments of melancholy.  Caz makes me laugh.  He makes me crazy too.  Isn't that what family does?  Make you crazy?  I am excited for.him.  College is a big deal.  He would have left for Auburn weeks ago, if he could have.  I happy for this time with him.  It is a new chapter for him.  It is a new chapter for us too.  The daily routine will be down to 4 of us, Demi, me, Coco & Gizmo.  That will have it's own dynamic.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Hammer time 2017

Happy 5th birthday to my nephew.  The kid cracks me up.  I hope Hammer has a wonderful celebration.