The Prairie Homemaker

writes her View from Mel's Place

08-15-05

I have had two weeks like this. One was spent preoccupied with getting Chris ready to leave, and my message board trying to explode (some folks were not happy and I guess felt I ought to make them so). While the message board drama played out, a neighbor also had drama playing in the form of wanting her boyfriend to move in with her, and his deciding not to right now, he just turned 18 Thursday. This drama came to its climax during Christopher’s going away party Saturday night. All in all I kept my temper pretty well, considering I have bigger fish to fry than making folks happy when I am getting ready to give up my youngest son.

During the week also Drew, my oldest decided he wanted to move out. Now while I understand and agree with his desire, I still think he ought to wait until he has a good job, or at least a steady one, and has gotten used to schooling again. It isn’t so much wanting to keep him at home as it is remembering how we have struggled, both leaving home so early. (Me at 17 when my family moved from Missouri to Texas and MJ because he, like Drew was 20 and felt he needed to be on his own). Well he went and looked at an apartment, good lands! They want, $485 a month (1 bedroom) your income must be 5xs the rent and your cosigner 8xs the rent, now to take his neutered de-clawed cat would be a $500 deposit only $300 of it refundable on move out inspection AND $30 a month extra! So I asked Drew, if you want to feel on your own, tell me what you want here and we will work it out.

So he came up with a list and we agreed he is happy to be supporting himself, renting his room, and helping a bit around the house and yard in exchange for a lower rent. I don’t have to hurry and get over “losing” one son so I can face “losing” the other.

As far as Chris going, we dropped him off at the recruiters yesterday, went through the parents orientation, and hugged him goodbye as he jigged around, anxious and ready for his new journey to begin. I woke up at 3:30 this morning thinking “Well Chris is on his way to mess and then MEPS” He will board a plane around noon to head for San Diego. I am not sad really, at least not yet, it still feels kind of like a dream. Chris will do well; he is very smart and athletic and can handle anything thrown at him. His brother is going to miss him a lot too, at least until school and work kick in next week.

For me, I will be busy cleaning, getting the house ready to do floors, and sand and paint outside. Well we plan to paint if it dries out some!

I have never seen so much rain in July and August in the 12 years we have been here! I love it, I just don’t remember it!

We have decided to stop using the ac and found enough screen here on the place to do 4 windows for free! Each week we plan to buy a roll of screen so we can do the rest, we still have…9 to go, including a screen door we are going to put to use.

Well my break is over and there are 8 pizza pans calling my name. Emily was a huge help in the cutting and prep, she cut up all my onions and peppers and pineapple! Thanks Emily, I am sorry you smell like onions! With her help, in 81/2 hours we prepped and then I made and served 16 pizzas! I made 3 more yesterday and we will probably eat Pizza again today.

So off to reclaim my home from post party clutter!

Hugs

The Prairie Homemaker