It Took Only 7 Seconds....And Then He Was Gone!

For an overnight Orientation program at his college 'home' that is. 

Matt and I set out late last night for our road trip...stopping first for gas, then 7-11 for some snacks. I gave control of the radio over to him as I fiddled with the GPS.  In just under two hours, we pulled up to our hotel to crash before having to wake up at the crack of dawn and make our way to campus.  We chatted in the car on the way over...okay, I chatted and he listened.  "Have a great time!"  "Be open to meeting new people!" "Take advantage of this chance to be the man you want to be!"  "I love you!"  I rattled off all kinds of Mom-advice, masking my own trepidation about what the weekend would hold for him.  Before we made the turn onto campus, I said, "I'll tell you now so I don't embarrass you in front of everyone...I love you Matty...have a great time!"

Good thing I took the chance to say that when I did because when we pulled up onto campus, the entire roadway was lined with dozens and dozens and dozens of cheering Orientation Leaders, dressed in school colors and cheering wildly as we made our way.  Matt's face lit up as he realized that this welcome was just the tip of the iceberg for what was to come. These bubbly ambassadors guided my car right to the front of the dorm where Matt was going to be staying. 

As an adorable and perky young girl poked her head in through my driver side windown and said, "Hi Mom!  Welcome!  Are you excited?  We're gonna take great care of him!" I saw three other kids come around to Matt's side of the car, open the door, cheering for him and asking, "Are you pumped?  Are you pumped?"   They opened the back door of the car, grabbed his suitcase and blanket, and started to shuffle Matt away.

Feeling dizzy, I couldn't process what was happening...it was all going so fast...yet it felt like I was in slow-motion.

That's when I felt a warm hand on my right shoulder...it was Matt...reaching in through the back door...smiling.. his eyes letting me know this felt 'new' and 'scary'...he mouthed, "Love you!" as the door slammed closed.

"No worries Mom!"  said my own perky guide, "You'll get to see him again for the opening ceremony in an hour...follow the arrows to park your car and go grab some coffee!"   And as tears filled my eyes, I pulled away from the curb, the sound of cheering slowing growing dim the further away I got.

Wandering through the recreation center, visiting the different information tables the college had set up, I kept thinking, "Pull it together, pull it together...it's just two days...it's just two days."   Making small talk with the other Moms helped me to know I wasn't alone, but I kept checking my phone every 10 seconds for a text from Matt.  Finally one came, "Roommates are cool.  This is awesome!"

After a while, Matt and his new 'roommates' for the weekend filed in to the Rec Center with the rest of the new freshmen.  My heart fluttered as I saw the huge smile on his face as  he chatted away with these kids he'd just met, acting as though he'd known them for his whole life.   I waved a small wave.  He winked back at me.

Some talking heads reminded the students and parents that this was going to be the start of the 'best 4 years of their lives' and then 110 screaming, cheering and bouncing Orientation leaders came bounding into the space, music blaring behind them.   The grand master ambassador at the microphone said, "Alright...the time has come...Moms, Dads...wave goodbye to your kids...it's time for you to go."  Again, my vision went blurry as my eyes filled with tears.

Heart pounding,  I tried to make eye-contact with Matt as the Orientation crew began to sing, "Nah-nah-nah-nah, nah-nah-nah-nah, hey-hey-hey...Good-bye!"

And before I knew it, I was out in the hallway with all the other glassy-eyed Moms, trying to figure out what to do next.   I headed to the bookstore and comforted myself by making a small mortgage payment on college-logo wear...sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, bumper stickers.  (Note to self...if you shouldn't go to the supermarket if you're hungry, you definitely shouldn't go shopping when you're feeling melancholy!)

A few stray texts came in from Matt throughout the day:  "Can't talk.  Having sooooo much fun.  Will give you more details later.  Luv u!"   and  "One more game and then dinner...I'm pooped...but it's amazing!!!!"

I spent the afternoon scoping out Matt's new 'hood....driving through all kinds of neighborhoods, imagining him eating here, shopping there, hanging out EVERYWHERE...I got back to the hotel, utterly exhausted, physically and emotionally. 

I get to pick him up in just over 24 hours....I think I can make it!