College Life: So Far, So Good

Whew!  What a day!
Okay, so I was rather hyper.  I woke up at 5 a.m. yesterday, drank three cups of coffee, flat-ironed my crazy hair, spent almost an hour applying makeup, threw the last minute things in the last bag, finished loading the truck, kissed my husband goodbye about 1,000 times, dried a few tears (mindful not to smudge my carefully applied makeup that later melted in the heat) and was on the road by 8:20 a.m.  Then I drove down to Covington (45miles) to pick up my sister, and off we went across the Lake Ponchartrain Causeway to the "big city" (another 35 miles). Yes, I'm still a country girl...always will be.  The back end of my husband's truck was totally loaded down with stuff, but it all fit surprisingly well in my room.  More on that later.  The woman at the causeway toll booth looked at my load and asked if it was all tied down.  She gave me a rather dubious glance when I assured her all of it was pretty heavy and I didn't think even the causeway cross-winds could blow it out.  She let me go, and, fortunately, I didn't lose anything.

The "Before" look.  All boxes, no organization.

Arrival at UNO was fun. 
My room is in the south hall.  Room check-in was in the north hall.  My truck was full of stuff anyone could steal (if they were strong enough or had friends to help).  My poor little sister pulled the unfortunate duty of guarding the truck in the heat while I signed in.  She got free ice cream as a reward, so it wasn't all bad. And I have to give a big shout out to UNO for being very organized.  Getting thru the sign-in process was a breeze and when it was time to unload the truck, my sister and I didn't have to lift a finger.  A swarm of pink-shirted young men and women descended upon us as soon as I parked in the south hall parking lot.  They came armed with a big rolling cart and absolutely delightful personalities.   I thoroughly enjoyed interacting with them.  If their attitude is a harbinger of things to come, I think I'm going to love it here.

Cozy and colorful to offset all that beige.

Everyone was as nice as could be.
It wasn't just the "pink shirts" who were nice.  My roommates, well the 2 out of 3 that I've met, seem super sweet.  You know that guy named Lazlo in the movie "Real Genius" who lives below the school and enters his hideout through a closet in Val Kilmer's room?  That's my third roommate.  I'm told by one of my other roommates that she's seen her, but as yet I've not seen her.  Her door is always closed and the light is off.  I'm wondering if she has a secret entrance in her closet to an underground hideout.

I digress.

The young lady at the front desk who helped me get my internet connection set up was great, too.  Other students I met in the hall were wonderful.  Even the parents I met were a pleasure.  The universal comment I heard from all the parents was, "This place is really nice.  Much nicer than I expected."

My workspace.  May it be productive!

And that about sums it up...
This place really is nicer than I expected.  I hope I still feel that way  once the novelty wears off.  This coming week is "Welcome Week" and there is a host of planned activities I can take part in if I so choose.  Tonight is a "cookout" in the dormitory courtyard.  Free food!  Yes, I think I'll make it to that one.  In the meantime, I'm off to try to get my books and parking decal, find all my classrooms, and just get a good sense of the place.  Exploration day!

My sweetheart little sister, Eileen.

P.S.  The pictures illustrate the conversion of my drab little room (beige walls, door, floor, blinds) to a colorful, cozy little nest.  I couldn't have done it without my little sister, Eileen.  She got all misty-eyed with happiness for me and for having the opportunity to share this experience with me.  My family is the best!

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go....

I'm leaving in a Chevy truck...

I know it doesn't sound as poetic as "leaving on a jet plane," and unlike the late, great John Denver, who originally penned those lines, I know (God willing) when I'll be back again.  But, babe I still hate to go.  I move into my room at UNO tomorrow, and as excited as I am about this new adventure, I'm already missing my hubby.  I've cooked some of his favorite meals and stored them in the freezer.  He won't starve.....at least for the first week.  After that, once the studying sets in, well...he just may have to learn how to cook. 

"Okay, Mom.   Tomorrow's the big day.  I'm heading off to college."

My parents spent most of the day with us.  Mom looked at the huge pile of stuff I planned to take with me and asked if there was anything I wasn't taking.   Ha Ha!  But she laughed when I said the words above.  She recognized the irony.  Those words were 35 years in coming.  And, characteristic of the wonderful mother she's always been, she admonished me to be careful.  "I know you're gonna do fine.  I just worry about you being in the city.  It's such a terrible place."  Oddly, that was what she said 35 years ago, and I, the naive little country girl, was terror-stricken.  Those words definitely contributed to my decision not to pursue my degree straight out of high school.

"Stop hyperventilating!"

Also my mother's words.  Good advice.  I'm excited.  I'm a little apprehensive.  I'm definitely over-packing.  I'm making lists of everything as I pack it.  I'm trying to be organized.  List-making is keeping me focused and the packing is keeping my head busy.   Hubby Dearest just shakes his head. 

"Are you nervous?" 
"I wasn't....until you asked! 

There goes something else into the pile. 

Really, is there anything I'm not taking?   Yes.  It's him.