Leaving on a Jet Plane

I'm alone!

Well, with the two rambunctious nut cases still here, I guess I am not really alone. The kid has flown off to Chicago for the weekend. He is attending the Speech and Debate Tournament at Northwestern. Very exciting for him. Very quiet for me. Win, Win.

Last night we needed to pack. We are very different packers, I couldn't care less what I bring, I just want the luggage closed and waiting by the front door. He wants to bring EVERYTHING he owns and wants it to fit into a carry on. It was war I tell ya, just a big old battle. One that he puts off until 9:00 pm, just to make sure we are both tired and wore out from our day. That way we are in a fine mood to deal with each other.

It starts so innocent. With smiles and kind words. Then it travels at warp speed into frowns and a little bit of sniping. Then it crashes into yelling and lines being drawn. If we were two guys this would be the time for the throw down. Bring it on would be uttered and West Side Story would be happening on the second floor of our home. But I'm a chick, so I go the silent treatment accompanied by the shake of the head and the look that says "You are so wrong! the wrongest you have ever been! the wrongest the world has ever seen!" He goes with the tried and true "You are the worst mother EVER! and back when you were my age, you traveled by wagon train and COULD bring everything."

I try and leave. He wants me back. He debates about why I don't buy quart size plastic bags and he has to use the sandwich size. It is now 10:30 pm and he wants me to run to the store and buy quart size plastic bags because his GIANT deodorant won't fit in the sandwich size. No, I won't go and the whole lovely scenario starts again.

Finally everything is located inside the suitcase, including the giant deodorant and it is indeed parked by the front door. We tap dance around each other for a while but it blows over fairly quickly.

This morning I drop him off at the airport and he hugs me goodbye. Stands with his Speech and Debate team laughing and joking, I start to go. A voice calls out "I love you, Mom!" I turn around and there he is waving and smiling at me. All is good.