We took Becca to College on Wednesday. I took the whole day off, packed up HER car & the van. There was VERY LITTLE room for anything other than what we had. I really didn’t think we took TOO much but it sure filled up A LOT of space!! We left right after lunch. Becca had planned to drive the whole way to prove to me she can drive herself home when she wants to but she got tuckered out about 2/3 of the way so I drove the rest of the way. Nick & Scott drove the van so Nick got A LOT of driving time!!!
We arrived in Springfield, MO about 6pm & went to Outback for our “last supper”. Then, ‘cause she wanted it, we went & got Coldstone. We stayed in a hotel in Springfield ‘cause there are only TWO hotels in Bolivar (where her college) is and neither is a chain that uses Scott’s hotel points. LOL. Thursday morning, we got up & Becca & I went to Chick Fil A for our favorite breakfast & then drove to Bolivar, about an hour away from the far corner of Springfield where we were.
When we arrived, we got a parking place right in front of the door to her dorm!!! Awesome spot!! (And, since I don’t think she’s taken her car anywhere since, I guess she STILL has the awesome spot! LOL) We wanted to get the lay of the land so we didn’t bring anything in with us first trip. There were a TON of boys standing around the door asking us if we needed any help. We told them we were fine.
We spent about 45 minutes in her room & made a rescue call to my dad (my parents are LITERALLY, just across the street from the college) trying to figure out WHAT could be done with the beds!!! The dorm is fairly old and until about a month ago, they had regular twin beds (the main reason Becca chose this dorm over the other 2!!) but, I guess the bowed to the pressure of the linen lobbyist who want to get the arm & leg that they can charge for XL-Twin sheets & changed all the beds & mattresses. So, since the walls were made when regular twin was used, they aren’t long enough to put an XL-Twin bed against them & STILL open the door!!!! Bunk beds are sooooo not teenage girls so we finally made a loft & a “normal” bed in an L shape w/about 6-7” of bed 1 UNDER bed 2. Hope her roommate’s ok with it!!! (her roommate is an upper-classmen & wasn’t getting there until yesterday, maybe?)
Dad, Scott & Nick went out to start unloading stuff. Suddenly about 15 boys were in her room loaded down w/EVERYTHING from both cars. Took about 2 minutes! Then, it was just a matter of finding where to put stuff…… Don’t know if she kept it where I put it or she & her roommate moved everything.
At 4:45, we all headed for the middle of the campus. The kids all left us & then they marched into the auditorium and away from their parents. In 4 years (hopefully) they will do the exact opposite & march OUT as college graduates!!! I teared up a little bit but didn’t bawl like I thought I would. We went back to my parents & on to dinner.
On Friday, we stopped at Target & Bed Bath & Beyond for some last minute items. We drove them back to Bolivar w/the intention of just locking them in Becca’s car but, she was in her room before lunch so we snuck back in & saw her one last time before we actually left town.
I miss her. It’s hard to see her empty room and just random things around the house that make me think of her. Yesterday, when I was in Fairview, the kettle corn people were there & I thought “I’ll get some popcorn to take home to ……..Becca’s not at home!!!” WHAAAAA I am holding it together & not crying as it won’t help anything and she’s where she’s supposed to be. I’m sure I’ll get used to it. I’m just waiting for the text telling me she’s having the best day ever!!! I want her to be happy and until she tells me that, I’m worried that she’s homesick & scared & hiding in her room. <sigh> Dad’s have it soooo much easier!!!