My son is now 19 years old, a college sophomore, an E3 in the Army, and rents his own home. Right now he’s in the stand-on-my-own-two-feet time where he doesn’t call regular, doesn’t answer all the texts, and is busy building his life. That’s fine I get it. However we did make an appointment to go up to Madison, see his new house he is renting, and take him and Sara out to lunch.
There’s football on TV women! Mom making his picture and girlfriend trying to make him SMILE!
His new digs were built in 1904. It has narrow staircases, hardwood floors, and exposed stone basement. The bathroom was obviously a converted bedroom but why they choose the largest bedroom in the house is beyond me. As for condition – it’s a typical student slum. LOL! I’m sure he loves it just as much as I loved my student slum apartment.
We drove down to State Street which is the street from campus to the State Capital building. It’s also the center of shopping, dining, and drinking. The main drag if you will of Madison. At University of Tennessee in Knoxville we had Cumberland Avenue. They have State Street. We wound up getting a deep pan Chicago style pizza and watching football at bar.
Below are a few sites of Madison and the trip to see Aaron and Sara.
This is the Red Gym a landmark on campus should you ever visit. I went up to a writer’s seminar years before Aaron went to college. It was in a building near the Red Gym. I drove up early that morning in the snow, parked and made it to the conference. Every direction or lecture referred to this building. It was my first time in Madison, I didn’t pass it when coming in and had NO IDEA what they were talking about.It is a very historical and distinct building Madison. The castle like look is explained by it being built to serve a dual purpose.This one of the many lovely buildings on campus. I don’t remember the name of it but it’s where Aaron would catch the Badger Bus last year to come home and visit Sara.Construction – I’ve never been to a large campus that didn’t always have construction going on some where.A view down State Street to the capital building.
I know Mike and I are aging when he suggests we stop and stretch our legs. Mike is the KING of let’s get there driving. Back in the day a 12-18 hours was a day’s drive to him. Keep in mind he didn’t believe in stops to pee unless the car also needed fuel. All meals were to be consumed in the car on the interstate preferably purchased via drive thru window at the same exit as the fuel/pee stop. I was expected to sleep so I could drive and shockingly this transfer of power took place ideally at a fuel/pee stop. When the press story came out about the astronaut that wore diapers to make the drive to attempt to kill her rival I cringed thinking Mike would get travel ideas.
Ahh but now he and I can see 50 much easier than we can look back to 40 because it’s closer you see. On our last trip south he suggested stopping at the Boone Tavern to stretch our legs. I eagerly jumped at the chance! Yes! YES!! A walk would be wonderful instead of caged in car seat pondering if I lost bladder control in the new car’s heated seat would it electrocute me? But yes heated seats made sleeping on the go more snuggy.
This was Mike’s submarine back when he was a junior officer. The USS Daniel Boone SSBN-629. He was on the blue crew.
So we took the Berea Kentucky exit to the Daniel Boone Tavern. Slight diversion here – Mike served on the USS Daniel Boone SSBN-629 so his interest in seeing a tavern related to Boone was one rooted in his submarine days. We take the exit, fill up with gas, get directions as to how far it is to the tavern, and head in that direction. Signs declare it Spoon Bread Days in Berea but other than that we saw no signs of it. We thought it’d ended earlier on that Sunday.
We find the tavern and are surprised to see it’s a still operating inn. Parking we take a short walk to look it over and are disappointed to learn Daniel Boone himself had nothing to do with the inn. It was just named for him. **SIGH** Oh well we looked it over, I made pictures, went to the bathroom, got a drink and we were on the road again. I did it all at the stop fearing the disappointment might end this delightful new trend. I must note we did not stop to stretch our legs on the way home. Then again we left at 3 am so Mike could be home in time to watch the University of Tennessee football game on TV. We had a travel deadline and couldn’t spare the time to see the first KFC, maybe next time. Until then enjoy the pictures of our one stop to stretch our legs.
Wednesday was Aaron’s last day here. He spent the day waiting on the car. Once it was ready from the garage at 5pm he wasted no time in loading that puppy. I can’t say I blame him. I remember being so excited to get to a place of my own back in my college days. I know he feels the same. Also he wanted to get up there and unload his stuff. Thursday morning bright an early (5:45 am) he had to report to ROTC for weight training. That’ll be a regular occurrence on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Don’t worry on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays he gets to report at the same time to run 5 miles. The first Thursday up there he had to be available to help his girlfriend Sara move into her dorm.
Just as Mike rolled in from work he got to help in the final moving out of his son. I can’t say a tear was shed because it wasn’t Not by me, not by Mike, not by Aaron. We were happy and excited. We laughed as Mike flounced carrying out the Army uniforms “Look at me I’m in the Army!” said the old salty Navy Captain. Aaron was all grins with a car of his own and place of his own to go to. There hugs and cheers and off he went to waves.
I have to say I don’t feel an empty nest, never got that concept. This is why we have kids for them to mature and go out on their own. This was the purpose of raising them not to mother them but set them off on their life prepared. Empty nest stuff seems so selfish like your kids are there to make you whole, they aren’t. Kids are just loaners we get for 18 years or so. We train them a bit and do our best to prepare them then if all is right we watch fly. The trick is to raise them so they don’t need you. That’s what parenting is about, making yourself obsolete.
I feel we’ve done well. At 19 my son has job security for the next 8 years and his college education paid for. He’s serving his country just like his father as he does it. He’s got a good head on his shoulders and bright future ahead of him. He’s an honor student in college and has plans for his future. I have nothing to shed a tear about. Actually I’m joyous! Honestly the parents I feel should be crying are the ones who have kids that aren’t moving on with their lives in an independent manner.
OH the places he will go, the adventures he will have and the messes I no longer have to clean up! Here’ to you Kid you are off to a great start!
This Saturday Aaron made a second run up to the house he’s rented with two of his buddies. He’s getting ready to start his sophomore year at Madison. I personally think this is it, he’s moving out. He won’t be home this Summer because he’ll miss Winter semester to go to boot camp. So this was the move of the large furniture. Mike helped pack the truck. Mike couldn’t go to Madison to help unpack because he had stuff to do that day. I’d not be that much help. Aaron was depending on his roommate to help. Only it didn’t work out that way. Roommate was called into work and Aaron unloaded by himself. Still here’s the photos of my son moving on in life. Later this week, he’ll take off in his car to settle into his new home. I’ll probably have photos of that too.
There was much staring at the back of the truck puzzling over how to put the next piece into the bed.Stuff awaits its turn to be loaded into the truckBeing young limber and the one moving Aaron got to do the interior pulling to load.Aaron got tired of the paparazzi.You have a tiny view out the back mostly have to use mirrors.Last thing loaded was the fridge for the room. Yes each housemate has brought their own room fridge AND they have a big fridge in the kitchen. Don’t ask me to explain.All tied off and ready to hit the road.
Mary Louise Eklund 