Empty Nester Update

     Well, the Eagle Has Landed.  It seemed like sending my one and only off to college was like organizing a lunar landing or maybe a space shuttle mission.  After he accomplished the 3 day orientation, the advisor meeting, the AP score transfers, the multi-step registration process, book search, shots and forms, student housing confirmation, meal plan confirmation, shopping for extra long bed sheets, towels, shower sandals, and oh yes paying the bill, I looked forward to a wonderful last weekend before the big move.  I wanted to do something neat as a family like go hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains or something, but something else intervened.
     -We discovered a leak in the main waterline.  Yes the expensive kind.  Outside where they dig up the entire front yard.  Ok -
Get the water guy out to say yes, you do have a leak.  Call plumbers and get one to come out over the weekend.  Dig, Dig, Dig.  Wait for inspector to come, and then while filling in the great whole have an earthquake shake thing up a bit.  Oh yes, pay the bill.
     Now we pack for the big move.  I got moving boxes for everything so all we had to do was load the van like a container ship.  After the boxes were filled and marked with his name and room number, so the thousand volunteer kids know where the boxes were going, we loaded in about ten minutes.  During our drive we all were cheerful and excited.  Then it rained - a lot.  No problem - everything was in its box.  In went the boxes into large bins on wheels, -even the refrigerator.  Our volunteer helped us find the dorm, and wheel the two large bins up to the room.  Before we knew it, he was unpacked, and off to the activities the college had planned for the new students.
     My husband and I looked at each other in the quiet car and knew a new phase of life had begun for all of us.