College end 2019 - daughter #1

Tom and I spent considerable time discussing how fast four years went by. In the blink of an eye, it seemed. As it does when you have kids. One minute we were traveling to North Carolina to move her in, and one minute we were driving to North Carolina to watch her graduate and move her home. Yikes.

She had four years' worth of stuff. Most of it got chucked and/or donated. Mainly because we didn't have room for things like a microwave and a refrigerator. Much to daughter #2's disappointment. But unlike daughter #2 who was able to bring home winter clothes after the season, daughter #1 had everything. Including heavy winter clothing that will not be useful or used in Florida.

Moving Madison was very much like it was moving her into her dorm in her junior year. Same quad, different building, but this time she was on the third floor with no elevator, and we had air conditioning. I told Tom to suck it up. I had it worse that year.

Madison had packed several boxes and other bins, but after they were loaded into the car, Tom and I decided that purchasing plastic containers and repacking would work better. The plastic bins were a better size and stackable so that the driver could see out the back. We did that for her while she worked. As an RA, she had to close down dorms and walk through dorm rooms taking pictures and writing reports.

Tom did the heavy work. The lifting, the carrying, the loading. I did the packing and cleaning. Tom and Maddy did the trash and the donating lifting. We worked well as a team. I did the least, I won't lie.

The van was loaded when we were finished. Hopefully, there will be room for Darcy's luggage when she arrives from Italy.

Madison finished work a day early and was released, and I felt a bit sad that this was it. UNC is a beautiful campus. Tom and I enjoyed our yearly visits. 

Not that we can't come back, but it won't be the same. Madison, however, was good. She put in her four years, did what she came to do, and was ready to move on with the next stage. We visited her eating haunts one last time, took photos, spent her last dollars on her student card, and then said, peace out UNC.

Four years ago, we dropped off our first-born and let her spread her wings. Now she's back in the nest until she's off again. I plan to enjoy this summer until that happens.