Morgan, packed and ready to go back to Morgantown, this time–basically–for good. School starts at WVU next week.
I was thinking about clinging to her ankles or throwing myself behind the wheels of her car so she couldn’t back up, but I’m pretty sure she would have kicked me out of the way then run over me. (Just kidding. I think.) She’s excited, eager, and ready to go. She’s a good girl, strong and confident and competent. HOW DARE SHE.
She started out in the world under six pounds, a tiny baby girl, and now she’s all grown up and going to college. I don’t know how that happens, but once somebody figures it out, I’m sure we’ll put a stop to it.
I asked her when she was coming back.
Morgan: “Thanksgiving.”
Me: “That’s not the right answer.”
Morgan: “October for the Black Walnut Festival?”
Me: “MORGAN!”
Morgan: “September? I’ll come home once a month. Okay?”
Well, okay, I suppose I can live with that. Then I cried and clung to her ankles and threw myself behind the wheels of her car and she kicked me out of the way then ran over me.
She’s actually been back and forth to Morgantown quite a bit this summer, and had already moved most of her things. She’ll be living in an apartment. She loaded the last of her boxes of things in her car yesterday and I packed in a fresh loaf of homemade bread.
Can’t move in to a new place without some homemade bread, right?
Morgan is my last little chick to fly away from the nest. I knew it was coming. First Ross, to the Navy, then Weston, to college and then to the Army, and now my baby. I’ve had a number of questions as to how I feel about it. I’m proud of all of them. Morgan is the only one who has lived full-time in this house here with me, and on this farm, and she’s always been a good helper and my sidekick whether in dressing goats in costumes, cornering a calf (she HATES cows!), or trying out whatever latest greatest from-scratch concoction I’m creating, always willing to pose for pictures and tell me how crazy I am. She’s also pretty funny. I will miss her so much. But she’s coming back once a month, ha.
Meanwhile, there’s actually a lot going on here. I’ve got three retreats coming up in the next couple of months, and there is always a lot to do around here to keep me busy. And, I do have my own personal private life that has nothing to do with being a mother. There is a certain freedom, after 23 years of being a mother, to stretching my wings again as a woman. Nobody to buckle into a car seat or run after to sports practice or cut up their food. It’s time for me to dance on the town, so to speak.
I’ll try to stay out of trouble.
P.S. In less than two years now, Ross will be out of the Navy and he plans to return to Sassafras Farm. Eventually he’ll be starting a family of his own here. I won’t be alone on the farm long!
Pam full of joy says:
Like every college kid, Morgan will come home for the food. Once her friends find out about the fab food her Mom serves up, her friends will come visit without her if necessary. This new season of life is a great season, Suzanne. Sure a probable transition period, a little bit of mourning for the phase that is over, that day to day closeness. It is natural, it was wonderful, it will be wonderful again and soon.
On August 13, 2014 at 1:30 pm
cardiffcheryl says:
This brought back so many memories of my sons going to college. I drove each one 500 miles and then had to drive back all alone, crying the whole way of course. This is my first post and I SOOOO love reading about you and your family every day!
On August 13, 2014 at 1:53 pm
[email protected] says:
I’m right there with you Suzanne! I also am sending my youngest of three children off to college in about two weeks. I am married so hubby and I will try this thing called empty nest. I know none of my kids come home very often so I don’t expect this third one to come home either. I’ll probably see them at Thanksgiving break and that’s it. They don’t even bother to come home for food! Nothing in the pantry!
Maybe we can cry together and then when that’s done, we continue on with our adult lives and then in May they will come home and create chaos! Our oldest in finishing her final year of college and maybe she will come home to live but I’ll encourage her to find a job and a place to live for next year!
Alice
On August 13, 2014 at 3:33 pm
Ramona Slocum says:
Wasn’t he and his girlfriend expecting a baby. Did I miss reading a post?
On August 13, 2014 at 5:21 pm
yvonnem says:
Ramona Slocum….I hope I am remembering correctly, but I think I read in the comments months ago a comment by Cousin Sheryl that stated she lost the baby. God bless them.
On August 13, 2014 at 8:19 pm
Glenda says:
I’m thinking you may go a little crazy for a couple of weeks…..in a very good way!
At least they aren’t a very long distance away from the farm.
Somehow you can get very used to a quiet house with no real demand for meals other that what you (or the odd guest) create. Then about 30 years down the road maybe a grand child can come spend the summer with you and remind you all about that time in your life!! Our 19 year old granddaughter did just that when I introduced her to some neighborhood boys and one caught her eye…..he lives very near us….need I say more.
On August 14, 2014 at 3:25 pm
MousE says:
Oh my. That’s a big step for Morgan, and a bigger one for you! Your last nestling…. my heart goes out to you. I guess it’s good you are busy and enjoying some hard-earned success, and then there’s that personal life you allude to….. 😀
Seriously, congratulations to Morgan, and to you, Suzanne. You’ve all experienced a lot in the last decade or so. Best wishes to all! And it’s great that Ross will come back and start his own family! Much to look forward to.
:snoopy:
On August 14, 2014 at 9:26 pm
Joell says:
:happyflower:
Suzanne, not to worry, your chicks will always return to the nest when they can, You have made home very inportant to them. Mporgan will be fine, you raised her well, she is a smart and talented young lady, she has an excellent foundation, she will probably be holding classes in the dorm o bread making and various other crafts, 😉 Sit back, open a nice bottle of wine, pour a glass and think of the paths your children have choosen and we a pruod Mama–then cry a little, you did good.
On August 15, 2014 at 12:31 pm
Cousin Sheryl says:
May I cry? Morgan is “my” little girl, too! :hissyfit:
At least she still has Cousin Madison in Morgantown to go all “big brother” on her if she needs help (which I doubt she will). Although, I did see and incidence of long-distance tech support via text message that her cousin was providing this week.
I think we need to plan a Moms’ trip to Morgantown to see the kids. I could take you to another football game (HA – I know you are really excited about that!).
BEST WISHES FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND FUN, MORGAN! Love you! :heart:
On August 16, 2014 at 11:42 pm
mschrief says:
YOu willb e fine. I will NEVER forget when my son, who had been going to college, working at FEDEX and living at home, pulled up in a U-Haul and announced that he was moving out.
I didn’t have time to grieve, I let him get what household items he wanted, what food there was he wanted and hugged him. He never lived with me again.
He completed all but a semester of college and decided to be an OTR trucker.
He makes twice what I do and is very independant and loves driving.
You just never know where life with take you and your kids!
On August 19, 2014 at 5:16 pm