So, No. 1 just moved out of the house for good. I mean just about 15 minutes ago. She and her father are driving to California, taking five days to get there, and then Eustacia and I will fly out next Friday to join them.
We'll help furnish her new apartment, get her kitchen in order and make sure she has what she needs to start her new academic life at Berkeley. In between those tasks, we'll spend a couple of days in Yosemite and a couple of days in Sonoma and maybe a day or two in San Francisco. I've been trying to convince No. 1 that we need to visit Alcatraz, but she isn't interested.
All of this will be exciting stuff, but at the moment all I can think of is how my little girl, my firstborn, will never live in this house again. I know grown kids sometimes move back home, but that's usually under duress, and we probably won't be living here if and when that happens. What if she needs to move in with us when we're old and living in some wicker and pastel bungalow in Florida (shoot me)?
Here are some things I can look forward to in this next phase of life:
• trips to California
• turning No. 1's bedroom into the spare room of my dreams
• purging closets and dresser drawers of old clothes she left behind
But for now, I think I'll just be sad.
We'll help furnish her new apartment, get her kitchen in order and make sure she has what she needs to start her new academic life at Berkeley. In between those tasks, we'll spend a couple of days in Yosemite and a couple of days in Sonoma and maybe a day or two in San Francisco. I've been trying to convince No. 1 that we need to visit Alcatraz, but she isn't interested.
All of this will be exciting stuff, but at the moment all I can think of is how my little girl, my firstborn, will never live in this house again. I know grown kids sometimes move back home, but that's usually under duress, and we probably won't be living here if and when that happens. What if she needs to move in with us when we're old and living in some wicker and pastel bungalow in Florida (shoot me)?
Here are some things I can look forward to in this next phase of life:
• trips to California
• turning No. 1's bedroom into the spare room of my dreams
• purging closets and dresser drawers of old clothes she left behind
But for now, I think I'll just be sad.
Comments
You know she'll do brilliantly and have a marvellous time and you shall have a great time too, visiting her in sunny (er … foggy) Berkeley. You may even manage to persuade one of the girls to take you to Alcatraz.
And think what you can do with her room! Yay!
(still laughing at dive's comment!)
Cheers! Here is to our children!
Alcatraz would indeed be interesting. I'd come with you! lol.
Even though my eldest two are not with me, they're still here and when they come to stay, they just slot right in like they never went away, you'll see, don't worry. As Savannah says, they never REALLY leave home. Lots of love, xxxxx
Savannah, I suppose you're right. xoxox
Shan, you're a few years away from this, right? I've already started clearing out the closet. Next up, the dresser drawers, and then maybe I'll change the curtains.
Debra, welcome. NYC is a fun place. You can live vicariously.
Shazza, I thought of you yesterday because you're sort of going through the opposite thing right now.
Cheri, hey! Congratulations. Or should we be saying "oy," too?
Lynn, you're right and so thoughtful. I think the only difference is distance—the US is so big that a kid can move all the way to California and still be in the same country. They drove because she needed to take her car out there. We didn't want to spend five days in a car, so we're flying.
But for now, I think that Lynn is right. Let yourself be sad for a while although I notice you're already busy clearing out things ready to turn that room into one of your own. It's a good thing to be busy when you're sad. I hope that you'll feel better once you've been to California and seen her apartment.
But you have given her a good grounding in life which will be with her always....
1. Wedding.
2. Daughter's husband (your new son).
3. Grandchildren.
As sure as "The Graduate" was filmed at Berkely, they will happen sooner rather than later.
Good luck to no.1 and to you.