Ready for college
On every block in Lake Highlands, there are kids loading up their cars and heading off to college.
You can tell the freshmen from the upperclassmen. Moms and dads carefully pack up for the newbies – clean, new dorm rugs and mini-refrigerators still in their boxes. Their bedding is color-coordinated and they have bulletin boards with photos of high school friends.
The veterans stuff their clothes in boxes and trash bags – anything to get it into the car. And the last thing they want to bring along are high school keepsakes. They’re beyond that. Instead, they leave it at home in their room, which they expect Mom to keep as a shrine.
The freshmen look apprehensive. All spring, they looked at colleges as far from home as possible. Now, they’re not so sure if that was a good idea.
The older kids have held it together as long as they can. Mom’s cooking was nice, but they’re tired of being asked to keep their room clean. And our curfew is driving them nuts. Apparently, we are not nearly as much fun as their college friends.
If you want to see any of the local college kids before you go, just have dinner at Mi Cocina, Picasso’s, Mariano’s, or the other nice restaurants in our neighborhood. Our students ain’t stupid. They know it’s wise to get a nice dinner out of Dad now, while he’s still picking up the tab. Once they hit that campus, it’s dorm food and near-campus hole-in-the-wall restaurants for dinner.
I admit it’s an exciting time for us as parents. We know what wonderful experiences and fascinating people and new ideas await them. Ah, to be a campus coed again.
