College - Who needs any darn schoolin' ?!

Tomorrow, I take my son Nick to college. It's his second year; its not like I haven't been through this once before. A friend of mine sent me a link to a blog and I admit, I stole Charette's post for the night. So sue me...

I just felt I needed to send this bit of information on to my son. I've changed a number but I'm sure Charette won't mind.

Rock on, Bear.....

Nick,
Once again I’m sending you off for another year of college.
Be happy, be healthy, be true to yourself. I love you and I’m proud of you. Here is a little poem about how I somewhat feel. Just because you are there and I am here, I still need to feel you are safe. If you decide to move cross country and leave me when you're all done with school, I will hunt you down and most likely kill you. I'm giving you fair warning.

Love Mom

Expecting
Waiting
Watching
Delivering
Our boy is finally here!
nighttime vigils
sleeping world
listening to subtle protests
deciphering cryptic needs
trying to change him…and us
teaching to love and to trust
noticing alarming signs
grasping to understand
praying that all will be well
whispering comforting words
rubbing his blanketed back
nodding as eyelashes fall
watching the hours pass away
listening for deepening breaths
hearing the hushed sounds of sleep
pulling the door softly shut
hoping he will not wake
tip-toeing carefully away
brimming with worries and love

clueless parents
sleepless nights
anxious
exhausted
bleary-eyed
sleep-deprived
listening
always listening

18 years later, and the cycle
repeats itself–

Expecting
Waiting
Watching
Delivering
Our boy is finally here!
nighttime vigils
sleeping world
listening to subtle protests
deciphering cryptic needs
trying to change him…and us
teaching to love and to trust
noticing alarming signs
grasping to understand
praying that all will be well
whispering comforting words
rubbing his blanketed back
nodding as eyelashes fall
watching the hours pass away
listening for deepening breaths
hearing the hushed sounds of sleep
pulling the door softly shut
hoping he will not wake
tip-toeing carefully away
brimming with worries and love

clueless parents
sleepless nights
anxious
exhausted
bleary-eyed
sleep-deprived
listening
always listening

Could it be
our teenager
needs me as much now
as he did
when he was born?

My Oh My!

Who are you people and how did you get here? Wait, strike that, what did you buy me?

I'm so very excited, I've never had a surprise birthday party! The last party I had I must have been 10 and it was my Mom, Dad, Kelley and my brother John.

I've have some margaritas chilling in the freezer and the good news is my pool is done! So grab your Speedo and hop in; the water is great.

Thanks to Barb for organizing this wonderful party! She's such a good hearted person, even though I have to go change my undies because I've wet myself from the surprise party she's given me.

Shhhhhh! She's coming....!

Happy Birthday, KANDEE!!! (insert horn sounds and "For She's a Jolly Good Fellow" here. (This is Mrs.4444--Kandee was foolish enough to give me her Username and Password a long time ago, so I snuck in here to throw her a surprise party!!)

Wait--You say you're not Kandee? Well, quick, hide! She's going to be here any minute! If you can't stay for the party, leave a birthday message :)