Nine Days

Tampa 2008. Off to college.
Renting a snazzy blue Mustang to deliver him to campus seemed like a fun thing to do.
We had to make a few trips but it was a kick and a half! 

Do you remember those shopping lists for camp? I’d forgotten about them. Trying to figure out if they really “mean” 14 pairs of socks and finally going out to buy another 6 pairs “just in case”. Mud, rain, stormy seas could happen all in the same place couldn't they? It’s more difficult when you’re not in charge you know. Moms can make whatever decisions they want and take the heat for being wrong or being a self-admitted over-protection junkie.  Now it’s a mix. Of surprise at his wisdom, practicality and stubborn adherence to the same routines he developed when he was three. Buttons are bad.

• 1 pair of leather work gloves (brand new – the ones in the garage will not be good enough)
• 1 flashlight (he has a head lamp – thinks it will suffice – I did sneak another one into his bag)
• 6 pairs of black socks (It took me years to get him to wear black socks. He was convinced these were only for funerals. I guess we went to more than our share.)
• 1 pair of shower shoes (So, what are shower shoes? Flip flops? I hope so. That’s what he got. For the first time we discussed other people’s fungus. Oh yuck!)
• 1 wallet (He’s got that one under control already)
• 1 watch (A watch? He’s always used his phone. So he went and bought a Casio Module No. 3198 3299.)
• 1 ditty bag (ditty bag? What’s that? I had a travel bag that came with a corporate luggage thing from one event or the other.)
• 5 white thermal undershirts (REALLY? He has, on only one other occasion worn an undershirt. The summer he lived in Houston and had to work in an office, it was required. He wore the traditional Italian version. His Grandfather would have been proud. Except that he walked a mile to work in the 90 degree heat and it was an extra layer.)
• 5 white thermal pants (long johns) He was hoping to get away with taking his skiing thermals but they are black. We’re guessing that these are worn under his uniform and black probably won’t work. Have you ever tried to find thermal underwear in June? Thank goodness for Amazon Prime!
• 1 bathing suit
• 1 bathrobe (I am totally appalled at how much a simple bathrobe costs – especially if you don’t want to look like your grandfather in it – think light blue with piping at the edges.)
• 1 pair of tennis shoes (black)
• 14 pairs of white athletic socks (Let’s hope they don’t have to be actually stain free.)
• 14 pairs of underwear (briefs or boxers) I wanted to laugh. I really do. Do you think they only get to do laundry every two weeks? Sigh. Of course. Another Yuck! 
• 10 pairs of undershirts (crew neck) We screwed up here. We’d had about enough shopping at this point. Neither one of us are any good at it anyway. Malls are overwhelming and expensive. I’d rather be drawing or painting or in the garden and he would rather be doing anything else. We were no longer paying attention to anything but surviving the list, so some of them are v-neck. Mom Fail! I know it.
• 2 combination lock
• 2 pairs of pajamas (OK, so a t-shirt and undies will have to work – pajamas are for girls and sissies.) 
• 1 pair bedroom slippers (Can the same pair of flip-flops work? Good.)
• 3 pairs gym shorts (No problem as that’s all he wears no matter what the weather.)
• 1 navy blue sweatshirt 
• 1 navy blue sweatpants
• 1 pair all black ANSI approved steel-toe boots (He took himself off to the Boot Supply depot and some very nice folks explained how important these are, fit him twice, waterproofed them and told him to come back before he left so they could be sure. Thank you Redwing Shoes in Rochester, NY).

Honestly I really, really wanted to put his name on everything. I didn't. I promise, I didn't, but this list made me feel like I should. Clearly I need to stop thinking about this. OR I could slip little notes into his luggage. OK. OK. Did you ever put little goodies into their lunches went they started the first grade?  

I only added one important item that was not on their list. I added a first aid kit. A few band-aids, some advil and assorted items for when you’re far from home and just need to take care of yourself. And because I’m his Mom I snuck in a couple of candy kisses. I’m like that. I hope they don’t melt. Maybe I’ll go back and put them in a plastic bag. Oh, what about a sewing kit? It’s going to be hard to resist. I’ll likely get caught. And I’ll find my mother’s additions in a drawer somewhere six months from now.

Definitely put those kisses in a plastic bag.