I'm not sure if it's a certain smell in the air or a particular angle of the sun's rays but somehow I just know. It's September and it's back to school.
I'm not talking about the kiddies. I'm talking about college.
Our home is just a few blocks radius within three rather large-ish and highly-respected universities. One of which Brian and I both hold degrees from.
During this time of the year I've been known to drive a few streets out of my way just so that I might watch the students walk through the crosswalk in front of my car on their way to class. I watch them with their Northface backpacks, trendy leggings, tight tank tops, neglected facial hair and sideways baseball caps.
I open my sunroof, roll down my windows and turn on the local Top 40 station in hopes they'll think I'm still cool. But with two kids in the backseat who am I really kidding? The only thing I have going for me is that I'm not driving a minivan. I tell myself that my midsize SUV is still cool even though the first thing I scoped out when purchasing it was the location of the LATCH anchors.
And then there's the matter of my age. This year's college freshman were born in 1991 and 1992. When I was ten-years-old. WHAT?! How is that possible? A CIT. Cougar-in-training. That's what Brian calls me.
But really it's all about nostalgia. Remembering a time when decisions were so much simpler but seemed as if my whole life depended on it. I didn't worry about my daughter having skull surgery or if my son would go to private or public schools. And that's just the major stuff.
The minor stuff seems just as harrowing. What's for dinner tonight? Back then I only wondered if I should go to the Caf or "cook" some Ramen. I didn't despise emptying the dishwasher. I just ate cereal out of the same cup (yes, I said cup) all week. My biggest expense of the weekend was $5 for a plastic cup. And I'd have to line up a babysitting job to pay for it. Now my job is to babysit 24/7 and I get paid nada. The beer is definitely better on this side though, I'll give you that.
But all the while I'm reminiscing about it, acting like I want to be back there, those college years are the same as having a wedding. It was the best experience of my life but I never want to do it again.
Deep down I know I'm "cooler" now than I was back then. I have gobs more confidence. I don't have anyone in particular I'm trying to impress. No more dating. I've got my man and no matter what drama may unfold during the day, we're still going to fall into the same bed at the end of the night.
The biggest piece of homework I have hanging over my head is to post on this here blog.
Sometimes I am two months behind the latest music craze but you know what? That music's pretty filthy anyway. So I'll take my Jason Mraz and Jamie Cullum and Jack Johnson and G. Love and you can have your Ke$ha and Eminem.
My clothes consist of a five day rotation. Pretty much. Because I've got better things to spend my money on.
Like this totally awesome house. And my totally awesome midsize SUV. And books that I want to read. And the good kind of cereal to be eaten in one of many bowls of my choosing. And my very own washer and dryer. And not only beer but cocktails! Cocktails with the good vodka. And a bed with a boxspring and a mattress.
And, what am I forgetting?
Oh yeah.
And money to be spent on 529 accounts so that my kids can someday have that same crazy, awful, awesome, scary, exhilarating college experience as I did.
I'm not talking about the kiddies. I'm talking about college.
Our home is just a few blocks radius within three rather large-ish and highly-respected universities. One of which Brian and I both hold degrees from.
During this time of the year I've been known to drive a few streets out of my way just so that I might watch the students walk through the crosswalk in front of my car on their way to class. I watch them with their Northface backpacks, trendy leggings, tight tank tops, neglected facial hair and sideways baseball caps.
I open my sunroof, roll down my windows and turn on the local Top 40 station in hopes they'll think I'm still cool. But with two kids in the backseat who am I really kidding? The only thing I have going for me is that I'm not driving a minivan. I tell myself that my midsize SUV is still cool even though the first thing I scoped out when purchasing it was the location of the LATCH anchors.
And then there's the matter of my age. This year's college freshman were born in 1991 and 1992. When I was ten-years-old. WHAT?! How is that possible? A CIT. Cougar-in-training. That's what Brian calls me.
But really it's all about nostalgia. Remembering a time when decisions were so much simpler but seemed as if my whole life depended on it. I didn't worry about my daughter having skull surgery or if my son would go to private or public schools. And that's just the major stuff.
The minor stuff seems just as harrowing. What's for dinner tonight? Back then I only wondered if I should go to the Caf or "cook" some Ramen. I didn't despise emptying the dishwasher. I just ate cereal out of the same cup (yes, I said cup) all week. My biggest expense of the weekend was $5 for a plastic cup. And I'd have to line up a babysitting job to pay for it. Now my job is to babysit 24/7 and I get paid nada. The beer is definitely better on this side though, I'll give you that.
But all the while I'm reminiscing about it, acting like I want to be back there, those college years are the same as having a wedding. It was the best experience of my life but I never want to do it again.
Deep down I know I'm "cooler" now than I was back then. I have gobs more confidence. I don't have anyone in particular I'm trying to impress. No more dating. I've got my man and no matter what drama may unfold during the day, we're still going to fall into the same bed at the end of the night.
The biggest piece of homework I have hanging over my head is to post on this here blog.
Sometimes I am two months behind the latest music craze but you know what? That music's pretty filthy anyway. So I'll take my Jason Mraz and Jamie Cullum and Jack Johnson and G. Love and you can have your Ke$ha and Eminem.
My clothes consist of a five day rotation. Pretty much. Because I've got better things to spend my money on.
Like this totally awesome house. And my totally awesome midsize SUV. And books that I want to read. And the good kind of cereal to be eaten in one of many bowls of my choosing. And my very own washer and dryer. And not only beer but cocktails! Cocktails with the good vodka. And a bed with a boxspring and a mattress.
And, what am I forgetting?
Oh yeah.
And money to be spent on 529 accounts so that my kids can someday have that same crazy, awful, awesome, scary, exhilarating college experience as I did.
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