For the first time since August 13th, we saw Wilson this weekend. We had all kinds of plans ready to go. And then the balloon deflated. He sat with friends at the football game, went to see a girl he likes,hung out at night with other friends home for Labor Day weekend. We ate dinner with him on Saturday night and were relieved that he still likes us. We laughed and caught up, aware of the minimal amount of time that we were going to spend with him. He told us about pledging a fraternity,going to class, iclickers and assignments. We ask question after question trying to fit it all in between the hot bread and dessert. And then he was gone.
I had to remind myself that coming home from college the first time is strange for him too. We wanted more and he wanted less. He was excited about leaving today,like he was missing all of his new buddies. As he left to go back, once again my heart lurched and I wanted to yell kicking and screaming down the driveway. I am not sure when this is supposed to get easier, but so far, no luck there. For all of you pre-college parents, you are probably going to navigate this so much better than me. I have a bit of Erma Bombeck in me. She always said"Don't hide it.Just yell it." Well,I'm yelling. This is a new bend in the road and it sure is steep. So excuse me while I yell my way up it. I want to go back. I want him to be five. I want him to need me and ask me questions. There it is. But it won't change. And he is far from five.

Senior Worth

Worth is a Senior this year. He is one year behind Wilson and so ,here we go again. Tom and I have the many files called "Senior" on them from last year, but we are feeling like the seniors! Worth is our planner, our calendar man. He loves the world of precision and perfection. On the football team, he is the punter. Constantly trying to shave a second off his start time, put a second on his hang time,he charts his weekly progress on grids and stats sheets that make me cross-eyed. His goal is to play for a college and he has made it his job. Calling coaches,going to camps, he has worked hard at making this dream a reality. Its not an easy one. Many of these student athletes work hard, put out tapes, go to camp,email and call coaches, and practice hours on the field after everyone else has gone home. It can blow up in your face. But his determination and patience are what have me. He is not waiting on the dream. He is pushing it along like the football on the field,inching it as far as he can,hoping that a school will see that he is their man.
Signing day is in February. Each week at the game,he has Tom film him. He edits and reviews,seeing where he can get better. And each week, as he punts, my heart goes up high in the sky with him,hoping that it is the perfect punt he is hoping for. And in February, I hope he gets to put a college hat on. If not, he has done all that he knows to do. Keep dreaming big Worth.

Fall 2011/Wilson off to college

This summer I realized as Wilson and I passed each other in the hallway, that all too soon there wouldn't be a passing in the hallway. No bumping into each other in the kitchen for late night snacks,no watching a Steeler game,none of the normal things we have done together for the past nineteen years of his life. He is headed to college and all will change.
We are happy he is going. He wants to go, and we admire the work that he has put in to it. On the other hand, we know everything is about to be different. Wilson has a "big"personality. It carries through our home like the echo at the Grand Canyon. We know when he and his band of friends are "in the house". We like hearing them in the drive way razzing each other about who missed the last shot. We like the food being gone from the refrigerator,the Jeep pulling in and unloading the masses. We like it. And now, we are going to miss it. Its not the big stuff, its the little stuff that we will miss.
And so, as we left him at college,I felt a lump the size of an orange in my throat. Blessings Wilson.Take a turn at the corner and straight ahead to your new life. We are watching and missing the bump in the night.