Move-In Day 2019

It's go time!  Move-In Day (2 of 2) for the University of South Carolina.  It would have really been nice to have the first move-in day.  At least Coco drew the first time-slot of the day.  "First one to the park.....first one to leave."
     Overall, I would say it was a good move-in experience.  It is still organized chaos though.  The volun-tolds were there.  There was not a clear leader.  They didn't seem to have been give clear and consistent instructions.  Coco's dorm was not cart friendly.  Good news is that we were provided a cart and two volunteers to help move.  Bad news is the cart was a cardboard box on an unattached set of wheels.  On uneven ground, that cart design is poor. 
     The RM was extremely nice and very helpful.  Bonus points = he is a Red Sox fan.  Coco even got his bed elevated while we were there.  UofSC didn't want students or parents messing with the bed frames.  I wish Auburn had felt that way.  Coco had his priorities.  Get the smart TV up and running, then XBOX One.  I will say, Demi did far less nesting than she did in Caz's room.  That meant we were able to make our third Target run a lot earlier. 
     Coco was anxious.  But all in all, I think he held it together.  He was nervous about this book order.  We all walked to the bookstore.  I will say, it wasn't clear where to go or what to present.  Coco got it done in the end.  He could have done it alone but hey, he felt better with us there.  A target to vent on, but what are parents for? 
     Best news of the day?  When we went to pick up Coco for dinner, he texted that he would be a bit late.  He was at the Strom Thurmond Health & Fitness Center, playing basketball with his roommate and with some new friends.  That's right.  He was out of his room.  And he was meeting new people.  I can't tell you how relieved Demi and I were.  We knew our boy would be ok.

Off to USC

Off to South Carolina!  This is it.  We are taking Coco to college.  A short flight to Charlotte, then a short drive to Columbia. 
     We got an early flight.  We wanted to have plenty of time to drive down, check into the hotel and then go to Target.  One thing we did really well with Caz for preparing to take him to college, was to order things from Walmart and have it all delivered to the store closest to campus.  For Coco, it's Target. 
     Move-in day is tomorrow.  We have an 8 am time-slot.  I made sure to remember the Move-in packet.  It has a parking placard for the car.  It also has a placard that Coco needs to check-in and to receive his room key.  We have to leave the house at 4:30 am.  Man, is it early.  I actually couldn't sleep.  I was up at 2 am.  I watched most of the Predator before I meditated, stretched and made coffee.  I heard Coco up pacing too.  He was definitely nervous, which in turn, made me nervous.  I know in my heart, Coco will be alright.  My heart needs to tell my head that.  And then convince it.

Last Night: Transformers

Last night with the 4 Chins in one place.  Caz leaves to go back to Auburn tomorrow morning.  Early.  Really early.  Somehow I seem to frequently draw the early morning airport runs.  But I digress.
     Caz gets to pick dinner.  We offered to take him out.  However, he procrastinated packing.  Procrastination is not an uncommon occurrence.  Chinese takeout is the call.  Takeout from Tsangs’s Village Cafe in Hanover to be precise.  Nothing but the best.
     We all have a good talk at the dinner table.  Family time is so important.  We talk about everything and anything.  We talk even when the subject isn’t an easy one.  I think that has helped the boys be prepared to go off to college and off on their own.  The boys may not talk much at times.  But when it is important, they know they can talk with us.
     It won’t be the same after tomorrow.   It’s the beginning of the breaking of our fellowship.  The start of the emptying of the nest.  A family transformation.

Let’s Talk About S@x, Baby

Another son going off to college.  The same rules apply.  While packing up Coco and ordering supplies to Target in Columbia, it is an opportune time for The Talk.  It’s not the first time.  It won’t be the last time.  Demi and I are straight forward.  We don’t want to be grandparents yet.  Coco, you’re going to college.  Wrap it up.
     We have had discussions about STDs (or STIs I believe they are calling them these days).  He knows Demi is going to send him to college with a box of condoms.  While packing clothes in his room, Demi finds a condom.  “Is this the brand you want?”
     Silence.
     “What size?”
     At first, more silence.  Then, “Extra large.”, with a smile and a chuckle.
     Without missing a beat, “You know it doesn’t do any good if it’s too loose and falls off, right?”
     The smile fades and Coco exits the room.
     “So what size?”, as she follows him.
     Coco can’t get away fast enough.