Everything Is Cool, Everything's Okay

Entry 1

Yesterday was full, incredibly full. We got to Holyoke just before 8:30 and were busy all day until we left at 6.

The craziest thing happened yesterday--and I am not including the terrible way Google Maps guided me to Best Buy to pick up Leiney's fridge (it was insane). Jane, who accompanied me on that trip, and I were sitting at a light, waiting to turn left. The green arrow light turns green and as I am letting my foot off the brake, the cars across the intersection just start going straight, running a clearly red light. 4 cars went through before a fifth driver hesitated and I made my move. The return to South Hadley and Mt. Holyoke was otherwise uneventful.

It is everything I want it to be for her. Progressive, academically challenging, and absolutely the right place for her to be. I worry about homesickness, and know it's normal. They have such a wrap-around program, she will be okay. 

My sister Jane, Leiney and I sat through an hour on the parent's role. I, as always, kept nodding off for the first hour in the incredibly well air-conditioned 160 year old church building. Leiney left fornthensecond hour, bored out of her mind, with me somehow managing to stay awake while listening to parent's ask their concerned questions before they leave their children alone far from home.

When we finished, Abby found us, and we walked to the last event of the day, a reception at The President's House. As the name suggests, the college President resides therein. As we walked, Abby begins telling me about her meeting with her academic advisor. He told her she should begin the process now of applying for a Rhodes, Fulbright or Marshall scholarship, that gathering the letters is something

Monument to the Union
War Dead of South
Hadley, 1896.
people always wait too late to do. I was duly impressed and a more than a bit stunned that she had this discussion. She had little idea what any of those scholarships are, it was clear. I told her when I was in college my advisor suggested I apply foe the Ody Scholarship--a proud moment indeed. Named after Ody, from the Mel and Ody TV and Appliance Store in Lacey, if I am remembering correctly, the recipient gets to move to Parkland for a year and study marketing of 1970s color televisions while eating all of the KFC and Taco Bell one can afford. She rolled her eyes.

I miss Abby so much already, I ache.

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