<p>It's tomorrow for us too...went to our little neighborhood coffee shop for the last time for breakfast. Waitresses made HUGE fuss over her. She eats her last fried sticky bun. I start to cry. That was the first time...I'm very proud of myself! Today I'm off from work so we'll be finishing her laundry and marking all of her boxes with her room no. Tomorrow we leave @5:30 a.m. to check in by 9:00. It's going to be a hot, miserable day.</p>
<p>Both kids were out with friends last night and I freaked out knowing that this is how it will be every night in a week. Sending off #1 and piece of cake compared to sending off #2. I felt anxious, resltless, flat. I did get work I've been putting off done, and yeah! no TV was on. Small consolations.</p>
<p>S leaves Monday for NYC. We are also planning a 5:30 am departure, expecting Monday AM shore traffic. Younger D stays home, with soccer starting, but did not want to go anyway. It hit me only recently that she too would miss him. I have been so focused on me getting through all this I just forgot about the rest of the family. She thinks it is going to be a long three years of H and me bothering her.</p>
<p>Ah, I remember those first dinners home with younger brother, H and I both looking just at him and saying (in typical dorky parent fashion), so, how was your day today? His big sis had always dominated the dinner table conversation, and it was really a shock for him. But, by the time he left four years later, he'd gotten used to it....even answered questions once in a while. ;)</p>
<p>"She thinks it is going to be a long three years of H and me bothering her."</p>
<p>Hah! Our second son is also just entering sophomore year in high school and has precisely the same fear. Knowing that, of course, we'll occasionally tease him at the dinner table that with first son away we'll have so much more time to discuss his future with him. He looks anxiously at older brother and, sotto voce, theatrically whispers "Help me!" </p>
<p>Well, he at least has a few more weeks of not being the center of attention (or annoyance, as he might see it). We take first son to his school on the 17th. It will be an adjustment for all of us, but it's exciting, too.</p>
<p>Second son won't be coming along with us, however. He tells Mom he'd rather not be in the "Weepmobile" coming home. :)</p>
<p>D and I just got home from the movies for our last "chick-flick" for awhile to see "The Nanny Diaries". Tonight, going to dinner with grandparents and H and I for a "last dinner" with the family. She actually has to work all day tomorrow and Sunday in order to stay "active" and on the store's payroll until Thanksgiving break, so she will miss the last 2 beach days with us. Monday, is my last day of vacation and we have the manicure-pedicure appointments scheduled. I start school Tuesday, work Wednesday, and as soon as H gets home from work, we leave for NY for a Thursday AM move-in. She has been kind of sad today as her two best friends left this morning and several more leaving this weekend.</p>
<p>Well, tomorrow arrived for me this morning. MSM is on her way to Boston - we dropped her off at the airport this morning. It was an adventure, however, because at 3:30 this morning we received one of those automated calls from the airline indicating that her flight was going to be significantly delayed. I then called the airline and had them switch her to another departure at another (nearby) airport, where she could make the same connection that she was going to have to make with the delayed flight.</p>
<p>Fortunately, we will be joining her on Thursday to make sure that she is settled-in - she is involved in a pre-orientation activity.</p>
<p>I must say, though, that like many of you have expressed, I am feeling very sad. Her two younger siblings seem to be OK - arguing a little more than usual.</p>
<p>I'm totally surprising myself by doing fine. He's been gone a week and I'm so happy for him that I haven't felt sad. He sends a daily brief e-mail and we're calling today. We get to see him once a month for the next few, so that helps!</p>
<p>I would be doing better except for the free floating anxiety attached to the wilderness orientation trip S is on. They are completely incommunicato. No electronic devices whatsoever. (Remember when all we had was a stationary telephone with a long cord? Or am I too old?) No news is good news is my new mantra.</p>
<p>My son was on one too, with dismal weather and oceans of mud. He survived. Yours will too. I just talked to mine, back on campus. Things sound good. If son is happy, momma is happy!</p>
<p>I talked to DS today, using ichat w/camera. It made me miss him more :( But I'm happy that he is doing well, and has found his place. He'll be home in a few weeks for a music festival, so we'll see him soon enough. YEAH! It's just sad to think that this stage of his life with us is over. I'm hoping that my kids will find great jobs in Texas, and settle near home when they finish school. :)</p>
<p>We just got back from dropping off S for his senior year. Last one of eight years in a row! It feel, weird.</p>
<p>Guess we're starting a newer, new part of our lives soon.</p>