"Have a good life"

That's what G. said to A. as he hugged him in the security line at DFW today. I couldn't say anything because I was trying to not make a complete fool of myself while crying. He said, "I love you" then handed the security worker his computer and off he went.

I had to laugh the minute before that. When he took his bags to be screened, he must have set off some bells (maybe that trip to Afghanistan?). They opened his suitcase of books and removed ALL 42 of them (I counted) and leafed through EVERY one. They went through his other suitcase, a cool new rolling duffel bag that friends bought him, just as carefully. There were about 10 more books there and the guy said, "You sure like to read, don't you?" Finally, they let him go. Good thing we weren't in a hurry.

He didn't do a very good job of packing up his room, so that will be my project this coming week.

G. and I spent a moment in reflection this afternoon. We talked of how he has now really left the nest, this isn't just another short trip to another exotic place; this is the start of his career.

Lord, he is going to be in for a lot of changes, starting in less than 24 hours. Give him strength, help him to get off to a good start, help him to find some good friends. Give him wisdom beyond his years.

Empty Nest attack

Tonight my feelings really do relate to my blog's name. I'm starting to feel sad about A. leaving. I'm really starting to feel sad about him getting ready to leave.

Today he had a chat with one of our colleagues who lived in Ethiopia. A. came back from this chat overwhelmed and said, "What were they thinking?? I have no idea what I'm doing!"

This is some of the advice he was given:
--No respectable man shows his elbows. Wear only long-sleeved shirts. No matter what the weather.
--Have your leather shoes shined every day by one of the street shoeshine boys.
--If you learn Amharic, your street value will increase.
--Yes, there is malaria.
--If you can pronouce peoples' names properly, your street value will go up.
--Grow a beard.
--When you are asked to give someone's nephew a job, say you need to first check with your boss.
--When asked for a television, say the television might get broken when you tried to carry it over to them.

Yes, he is in over his head. Lord, help him.

Oaf son

I am laughing now. 
 
D just came home from Organic Chemistry class.  Well, he didn't come straight home.  He came in and announced:  I've just been on a date.  But I didn't know it was a date until she gave me her phone number!  Oh, don't worry, mom.  She's my lab partner.  We've got good chemistry.

Pensive

I'm in a thinking mood right now. We went out to dinner this evening to meet up with a group of friends from our old (now-defunct) church. Most of them I see occasionally, but tonight there were a number of people there I hadn't seen in ages. When you don't see someone for a long stretch, then you do see them, it gives opportunity to reflect on the changes you see over the interval of time.

Some of the kids from my daughter's peer group were there. One with a two-year old, livewire of a son, cute as anything, but with no father. She was there with a guy from that same group, actually someone she had dated four years ago. Yes, I think they should get married.

Another interesting thing was to learn one of the married couples from this now-defunct church has decided to become Roman Catholic. I guess in some ways it isn't a big jump for them because he attended a Catholic HS many years ago, and in recent years they became Episcopalians (after the church went defunct). Being Episcopalian was fine until last summer when the Episcopalians decided to ordain gay clergy. I'm not sure what I think about this.

I'm also feeling a little sad because of A's pending departure.