Down to the Wire

I'm sitting posting this in a hotel room.  Engineering Guy and Engineering Dad are out for one last golf game before we drop Engineering Guy off at his residence tomorrow.  When did Universities start accepting babies?

Engineering Guy is excited (a bit nervous too although he won't admit it).  We're excited for him  and the wonderful opportunity that he has but a little sad that this part of our lives has come to an end.

I spent the afternoon walking around town while the guys were golfing and I have fallen in love with it.  I think he has picked his school well.  All the schools that he considered are highly regarded for his program but I truly believe that this will be the best fit for him.  The city is big enough that he can be somewhat anonymous (unlike our small town which is kind of like living in a fishbowl) but small enough not to be too terribly overwhelming to a small town boy.  The campus is considered medium sized by Canadian standards with about 16,000 - 18,000 undergrads.  

Empty Nest Party

One of the things that Engineering Dad and I are going to do once both kids are safely ensconced in their respective homes for the school year is go on a holiday.  We are taking a sailing trip in the hope of deferring our empty nest for a week.  This last week has been so hectic - and next week will be as well with Computer Dude moving houses that we'll need a bit of a break.

Engineering Guy got his schedule today.  Engineering isn't for the faint of heart that's for sure.  All of his days run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. except for Wednesdays that are 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.  I think he's a tad depressed.

In the car on the way to the ball game

Engineering Guy:  Do you know she's trying to get me to pack already (a mere week before he leaves)?

Computer Dude:  Yeah - I remember.  I just found out that packing early isn't a girl thing - it's a "her" thing.

Me:  What makes you say that?

Computer Dude:  My roommate just moved out and she says she never packs until the day she is leaving!

I guess I'm busted!

One more week until our nest is officially empty.  We picked up Computer Dude and drove to Toronto to see a Blue Jays game as our last family outing for awhile.  Engineering Dad as usual was in denial about the time it takes to actually get into the city (he assumes he can drive the speed limit all the way to the stadium).  Also the Blue Jays were playing the Red Sox so there were more fans than usual.  By the time we found a parking space and got to the stadium 2 1/2 innings had already gone by.  It was all good in the end though because it was a scorching hot day and even the baseball fans among us (that would be everyone but me) had enough by the end of the day.  Computer Dude rarely sees the light of day on purpose so he wore jeans and was even hotter than the rest of us.  The Jays won and a good time was had by all.  On Friday Computer Dude comes home for the weekend as he's between houses and babysits the dogs while we drive Engineering Guy the five hours to his college and drop him off.  

Shopping

Computer Dude moved out of residence in April.  He was able to sublet for the summer but is moving into a townhouse with his former roommates in September.  The townhouse is unfurnished so Computer Dude needs some things - particularly a bed.  We went shopping to Ikea with that in mind yesterday.  I think he was a bit overwhelmed by all the selection (he's so not a shopper) but finally picked one he deemed suitable.  He was more excited about mattress shopping and had no trouble determining what he liked.  The guys are going to try and pick up a sofa but that's all they think they need (oh to be nineteen again).  They do have all the kitchen stuff from last year along with three TV's and multiple gaming systems (they are all computer dudes after all).

Move in day for both boys is getting closer.

Take My Son By The Hand

Thirteen years ago when Engineering Guy was getting ready to enter kindergarten his teacher sent me this:  I guess it still says something that I still have it and that it still brings tears to my eyes as I get ready to send him off to university.

Take My Son By The Hand

My son starts school tomorrow.

It’s all going to be strand and new to him for awhile and I wish you would sort of treat him gently.

You see, up to now, he’s been king of the roost.

He’s been boss of the backyard.  I have always been around to repair his wounds, and I’ve always been handy to soothe his feelings.

But now.....things are going to be different.

This morning he is going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand, and start on his great adventure that will include wars and tragedy and sorrow.

To live his life in the world he has to live in, will require faith and love and courage.

So, teacher, I wish you would sort of take him by his young hand and teach him the things he will have to know.

Teach him... but gently - if you can.  He will have to learn, I know, that not all men are just, that not all men are true.

Teach him that for every scoundrel, there is a hero, that afor every crooked politician there is a dedicated leader.

Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend.

Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick.

Teach him the wonders of books.  Give him his quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a green hill.

Teach him that it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat.  Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is getting on the bandwagon.  Tech him to listen to all men, but to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and to take only the good that comes through.

Teach him to sell his brawn and brains to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob, and to stand and fight if he thinks it’s right.

Teach him gently but don’t coddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

This is a big order, teacher, but see what you can do.  He’s such a nice little fellow, my son.

Computer guy was lucky to have teachers who did teach these things.  He's such a fine young man - and I'll miss him.

The Pile is Growing

With less than four weeks left until drop off day Engineering Guy's pile of "stuff" is growing.  It now includes a small fridge (for milk NOT beer) extra pillows (to be comfy while reading in bed - yeah right), actual school supplies (binders, pens, and the like), first aid kit that the mother insisted on, lots of deodarant, body wash etc. (heaven forbid he actually have to buy some of this stuff in the next eight months).  Somehow all of this stuff has to get up three stories of stairs AND fit in a double room.  Engineering Guy is very excited - Empty Nest mom not so much.

It was nice to have Computer Dude home.  We went for ribs and then went to see The Black Knight.

Home for the weekend

It's nice to have Computer Dude home for the weekend.  We had roast beef and cheesecake for supper at his request  - now he says he won't have to eat for the rest of the weekend!  

He's been playing piano since he got home.  It's nice to hear music in the house again.  I love Engineering Guy dearly but his piano playing is more noise than music (to be fair he is self taught and Computer Dude had several years of lessons).

The annual Ribfest is taking place in our closest city.  I think we will head there tomorrow.  Computer Dude wants to buy a new printer and a hard drive so we will take in Future Shop most likely.

Finally

Engineering guy finally got his room assignment yesterday.  I guess I won't have to buy a him a shopping cart and a box of garbage bags to hold all of his worldy possessions.  Unlike Computer dude, he will be living in a traditional dorm so it seems that he doesn't need a lot.  Still, we have a little pile of stuff which I'm sure will grow in the next month.

Computer dude is blessing us with his presence this weekend.  As I was tidying up his room and making his bed I noticed that his dresser is packed full to overflowing.  Presumably he's not walking around naked so I'm going to motivate him to go through the clothes and only keep what he may wear so we can donate the rest.  I have somewhat ulterior motives.  His dresser is one we bought when he was born and I figure he can move it with him in September as the townhouse he is renting is unfurnished.