I cried weeks before showing up at my daughter’s college town. I actually think it helped me cut back on those ugly cries that embarrass her and my nephews. I still cried into my hankie. I gifted friends and family with vintage hankies from the local stores as we sat together during the bag pipes, speeches, and exhilarating anticipation of seeing Rachael in her cap and gown
Yes all twelve of us leaped out of our chairs like a sudden wave and screamed, YEA RACHAEL when she crossed the stage and her name was declared with a B.A. Well, so did the other proud parents. We weren’t the only fools waiting for that one shining moment in the May rain.
College graduation was a weekend of Rachael stories, hugs , clicking cameras, dancing, walking the campus one last time in and out of the museum, art studio, modern new cafeteria, bookstore for one more souvenir and hearing myself say, “I am so glad I am not moving her in the dorm up and down all those steps and shoving boxes in the back of the rental car.”
Everyone got what they wanted as far as laughs and time with Rachael We strolled the shops of jewelry , guitars, and gourmet cafes saying hi to other parents and friends and stopped in the hope of having one last face to face connection with the people who were apart of Rachael’s four year community. I sure hope somehow we see them, again. I too will miss the locals, the farmer’s market, the music, the college library and yes I know that sounds absurd, but it has great memories for me when I had to work and also when I watched and ease dropped on the students stress and hooking up stories. I’ll mostly miss hearing Rachael and her acapella ensemble perform. It’s always a good cry and opening of my heart. I won’t be giving them See’s Lollipops to sweeten their long weekly rehearsals as I had for four years.
I won’t miss up at three, fly at 6 am, change flights in Chicago, and land hopefully before dark for the final 35 minute drive to the hotel. I won’t miss the bills, big bills to pay. I won’t miss saving the coupons for Bed Bath and Beyond.
How can I already have a college graduate? How can I already check off so many fulfilling dreams that I wished for in being a mommy, a mother?
Parenting…it isn’t over, never, but the doors are swung wide open and I can’t wait to see what flies in….
