With the departure of my oldest child looming in my near future, I've been on the verge of my emotions for a while now.
Now I know that with all the modern communication available that we'll rarely be out of touch. And I know that we're going up to see her for Labor Day weekend too. It's not the end of the world.
But it sure feels like the end of childhood, the end of a major section of my life.

I can't help thinking of this constant list of advice ranging from quite practical to philosophical. Like these....

Tell a friend where you are going on a date and when you expect to return.
Don't put your bras in the dryer
Don't wait 'til the last minute to pick up your prescriptions
Churches love college students and will probably feed you
Call me every now and then
Don't count on the reliability of someone trying to sell you exam answers
Carry an umbrella - she'll be in Northeast Ohio
Don't forget that ultimately the purpose of this adventure is to study & learn
Eat vegetables every day - and not just pizza sauce

But more philosophically,
I wish for her an inner peace through the inevitable ups and downs that comes from knowing that I will always love her.

Any other advice you would add to my list?

Remember me? Is anyone still out there?

It has been a busy Spring! In a nutshell...

My daughter's last day of school is today. I can't believe it. Prom next week, Graduation, Parties, Beach Week. She is so excited to go off to Kent State in August. She'll be fine and do great - not so sure about the rest of us...

My son turned 16, has his Learner's, and still struggles with that damn ulcerative colitis. He did manage to play on the tennis team this year though, so he is doing better than last year at the same time.

My youngest is a classic 13-year old, in constant contact with her girlfriends via text and facebook, enjoying her dance class and looking way too grown up to be my baby.

Oh, and I got engaged! That was a fun night. Mark proposed at dinner with the kids. His daughter knew it was coming, mine were surprised. Within a minute, the kids had posted it on Facebook and the word was out. We haven't set a date. I find the idea of wedding planning to be a bit daunting. Maybe we'll just elope - except we'll still have a party.


I'm loving being a yoga teacher. I love hearing how this practice is improving the lives of my clients. Our studio is beautiful with big windows facing a pretty garden. It hasn't been a simple adjustment to my family to have me working nights, but we're making it work.

So it looks like we have one big decision made: Sofie is going to go to Kent State University - the college I went to the longest, and where her father graduated. It's been 25 years since I had been there. A lot had changed. A lot was the same - like the slushy snow.



Boy college seems so cool. I want to go. I want to have that schedule, and the meal plan, and the rec center, and the free concerts. Not that I want to be 18 again. Sofie is ready to go. The program seems a good fit for her - and for our budget. She's already investigating sororities - Tri-Sigma being an early favorite.

What will this house be like without her here? If I think about that too long, the room always seems to turn swimmy. So I just look down at my feet for the next step.

Does life speed up as you age?

So here's the proof that I like my new job better than my old job.

I told my editor that I would help out if they needed me while finding my replacement. She has called in that favor and I have a dining article to edit. She even invited me to write the March feature article on yoga (not playing fair!)

But tonight we had three new students in yoga class - even with the snow falling. And I was more eager to enter those into our databases than I am to get to the writing. Yoga data entry vs. writing/editing.....



I've poured a second glass of wine.
Looks like a snow day is likely for tomorrow. I can edit then.