At This Rate, We Won’t Even Have To Stop The Car When Senior Year Begins.

We took D back to college yesterday. As I mentioned last week, emotions are very different from this time last year. Driving D and all of his belongings–well, all of his belongings that he wanted to take into that tiny dorm room of his–to school was going to be a pretty average experience emotionally, this year.

We didn’t know the half of it.

About a month ago, D ever-so-delicately came to Jim and me and said, “Um, I was wondering. I don’t want to upset you guys or anything, but I wondered if it would be okay if you just help me move my stuff TO my room and then just…go? I thought I’d just set up my room with my friends.”

Jim and I gave each other a “high five”…with our eyes.

“Of course!” I said. “That’s fine!”

D backtracked a little bit. “Well, I mean, I’ll still need help moving my heavy stuff around…”

I smiled. “Oh no. No, no, no. That’s what you’ve got FRIENDS for, right?”

He shook his head at my “mom joke” and we both laughed as I told him that we’d do whatever he needed and then get out of his way.

Here’s the story of how it actually went yesterday, after we made the 90-minute drive (in two cars) to the school:

1. J and I hit the grocery store near the college for the eight or ten food items on D’s list while Jim took D to check in and get his key.
2. J and I arrived at the college just in time to park alongside Jim, who had already unloaded his truck onto the sidewalk outside D’s dorm.
3. We all helped carry the stuff up to the dorm room.
4. D said, “Okay…thanks!”
5. We hugged, and left.

Elapsed time? Less than 45 minutes.

True story.

I got one picture of D as he gestured towards all of his stuff, piled high on his bed. ONE! I can’t even post it here because the look on his face is totally goofy.

What a difference a year makes, right?