In a few short days, my husband Doo and I will be relishing the return to our almost empty nest. Praise be! We’ll still have our youngest around to keep us young, but the eldest three will be heading back to their respective college campuses, COVID be damned.
And it’s been a fascinating run-up to said departures, given the different personalities of our kids. The oldest has been fairly nonchalant. He has already made one trip to Bloomington to move out of one shoddy apartment and into a slightly better house, though that just means all of his beer-stained stuff is now piled in a basement. He plans to show up a day or two before classes, plenty of time to organize, find a job and prep for the enviable grind of student life.
Our older daughter is at the complete opposite end of the coed spectrum. She’ll be driving to Colorado for her sophomore year and only has a Honda Accord’s worth of space with which to work. Our kitchen table has become a triage as she weighs the pros and cons of each small appliance, piece of clothing and pair of boots. What will make the cut? The intrigue is palpable.
Her twin is perhaps the saddest to observe. He’s transferring to Ball State from a California school because it’s going online this semester. He knows he’s been accepted, and that’s about it. He has no move-in date, no dorm assignment, no desire whatsoever to visit Muncie. His lack of enthusiasm is outweighed only slightly by his disdain for being in Indiana. Hashtag heartbroken.
Regardless, a near empty nest approaches!
Peace out.
