Adam left yesterday morning to go back to college. He packed up his Corolla (the one with 192,000 miles on it) and headed north to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. It was a day that all of us have been working towards and looking forward to, but it was still a sad one in its own way. Suddenly, it seems very empty and very quiet around here.
Adam had come home for a few months to get some things worked out and to get himself back to a point where he could go back to school. Having him home again was a bit of an adjustment for all of us, but we made do, and Adam got to work on the things he needed to do. To his credit, he did what he promised us he would do, and now he gets to enjoy the fruits of his labors. I hope his college experience will turn out to be everything it should be. He deserves it.
I love being around Adam. His curiosity and passion can at times be close to overwhelming, and his enthusiasm is infectious. Once I convinced to play golf, it was tough to keep him off the golf course. He wanted to play ALL the time. Before long, I found myself feeling the same way, and it felt great.
Adam is also one of the smartest people I have EVER known, and keeping up with him intellectually can be something of a challenge. I’m a reasonably intelligent individual, but debating with Adam for any length of time can leave me feeling rather retarded. It can be rather humbling to have a 20-year-old run circles around you intellectually, but I’d hazard a guess that I’ve learned at least as much from him as he has from me.
I came home for lunch yesterday, and it was difficult to believe how QUIET the house felt. There may have been times when having a lazy 20-year-old around the house could be frustrating, but the days were never dull when Adam was here. I am going to miss him, perhaps more so because he won’t be home until Christmas.
Eric won’t be home from camp for another week. Until then Susan and I get a taste of what life will be like on our own, and I'll have to get used to her crying when any little thing reminds her of Adam. There are times when I feel like crying as well. It certainly will be quieter, but I’m in no hurry to experience empty nest syndrome on a full-time basis.
Good luck, Adam. I sure am going to miss you….
