Cider Press Hill

Enough to break my heart

The lad departed for school this morning. His Dad came to pick him up with a vehicle large enough to haul all his stuff and even at that, it was a tight fit. My house still looks as though the lad might walk back through the door at any minute—a pair of shoes here, a pair over there, the discarded backpack, a few piles of tee shirts. It’ll take me a few days to put things back in apple pie order. And while I thought I might feel pretty sad when he left, I’m surprisingly okay. What I am, however, is very concerned about his girlfriend.

She has been here a lot this past week and, to tell you the truth, it was sort of like watching someone prepare for the gallows. She desperately tried to keep a stiff upper lip, but it kept wobbling. Yesterday, she finally dissolved and sobbed her heart out. I felt so, so, so sorry for her. The more the lad tried to comfort her, the harder she cried. The lad wasn’t exactly the model of stoicism, either. He was rattled right to the core.

She took him to work last evening and they said their final goodbyes. It was a very tough evening for both of them.

When he came home, he wanted to talk about it. I asked if he’d left her with anything of his...you know, like maybe a tee shirt or something. No, he hadn’t, but he recalled how she’d put on one of his sweatshirts the other evening and told him how much she liked it because it smelled like him. I said, “Well, maybe you could pick out one of your tee shirts, sleep in it, and then attach a note to it. I can have her come and get it or drop it off at her house. I think she’d really like having that little bit of you to hold until Christmas.”

Well, he jumped on that idea, but couldn’t decide which tee shirt. I suggested one of his school tee shirts. I have one and they’re really thick cotton and really comfortable. I’m pretty sure she’d like it. He grabbed one out of the fresh laundry pile and pulled it on. It seemed to make him feel better, too.

So, he’s gone now, but he left her his tee shirt with a sweet note pinned to it. He said he’d call her this evening, so I expect she might pop over in the next 24 hours. I hope to see her doing a little better than she was doing yesterday.

Her Mom stopped by two days ago while I was puttering around outside. First time that we’ve officially met. Interesting. She’s a warm and vibrant woman...I liked her immediately. She said she’d been meaning to stop by...she wanted to finally meet the lad’s Mom. We talked about the kids and both noted that something definitely changed this summer. They were kind of casual about things in the last year or so, owing to the distance between them during the school year (she’s in Scotland and he’s in PA). I told her that I’d noted the change about mid-way through summer. Whenever Becca came over, the lad’s face lit up like a 200 watt bulb. Same thing whenever they talked on the phone. Becca’s mom said she’d seen the same thing. This has been a hard week. Breaks her heart to see her daughter hurt so much and I told her it wasn’t much better on this end. We laughed a bit, observing that it’s bad enough missing them when they leave, but this is a whole new development and it’s really hard to feel their pain on top of it.

Boy, they don’t tell you about these things in the Parent’s Manual.

Posted on 08/23/08 at 10:04 AM
 




justme

Awww, sniff sniff. Glad I didn’t have to see any of it!

United States   Posted by justme on 08/23/08  at  09:55 AM





Kate

I’m glad you didn’t either. It made me tear up to see it yesterday, I’ll just tell you. Wow.

United States   Posted by Kate on 08/23/08  at  10:36 AM





pablo

It’s a bittersweet pain though. It hurts so much because they care for each other so much.

United States   Posted by pablo on 08/23/08  at  01:57 PM





cyn

Appears to me there were a lot of things left out of the parents’ manual!!  And they also left out the warranty and guarantee........that said,having gone through it a time or two, this too shall pass.....  It is tough though--probably tougher on you then them in the long run!! ;)

Summer flew by, seems only the other day you were preparing for his return.  And, not to depress you or anything, but each time seems to go by faster and faster. 

Anxious to hear your thoughts on the election choices~

United States   Posted by cyn on 08/23/08  at  05:12 PM





Kate

It was tough on all of us, although I think they will weather it. They have for the past 4 years. It has been an interesting relationship. First they were boyfriend/girlfriend, then they decided they were just best friends. And they were. Then something started to build toward the end of last summer, but they sort of put it on hold. The lad tried dating a few times but said he compared everyone to Becca and they came up short. This summer it’s been head over heels. They’ve been best friends first and now the relationship is growing. They can talk a blue streak about everything under the sun. I like the progression this has taken.

Yes, summer went too quickly. Can’t believe how fast it went! Not one of us was ready for it to end so quickly!!!

What do I think about Biden? Initially I was a bit underwhelmed. But, I’ve been thinking all day.

Biden is a real Democrat. He’s pretty liberal on most fronts. He did vote for the Iraq war, but he seems to have learned from that mistake. He is not someone the neocons would wish for.

He’s the poorest of all 100 senators which suggests that he doesn’t have a raft of lobbyists in his pockets nor does he use his office to enrich himself. He still has the common touch and probably still knows the value of a dollar.

He’s a fighter. He’s good at flaying opponents at 50 paces. He’s smart and in command of his facts. He can do righteous anger and he can rage with the best of them, but he doesn’t lose sight of his goal or his logic. He’s not a loose cannon. His anger and rage are carefully targeted. I think McCain will have a lot to fear from him.

Biden has plenty of foreign policy and national security experience. He seems to have a fairly good supply of common sense. He’s not a war monger.

He also has a pretty decent record on environmental and energy issues.

He’s not Mr. Excitement, but I think he balances out Obama pretty well. And...he’s well recognized by most people who watch television. He’s had a lot of face time. He doesn’t threaten people as an “unknown quantity.”

And did I mention that he’s a good fighter? He doesn’t appear to suffer fools gladly and I kind of look forward to the first time he and the McCain camp mix it up. I’ve watched him many times during hearings and he surely isn’t one I’d want to be on the wrong side of. He slices and dices with precision. Sometimes even with a smile on his face.

I think he brings what’s needed Right Now and he has plenty of what’s needed later. All things considered, I think he is a pretty decent pick. Doesn’t mean everyone else will think so, of course. We’ll have to wait and see, I guess.

United States   Posted by Kate on 08/23/08  at  07:56 PM





annie

I didn’t reven realize there was a manual, the copy I got was all advertisements! Ah.  Yes my boy left thursday.  I really miss him already.  Young love is tough.  But it sounds like they are mature and level headed.  Oh and BTW I agree with you about Biden.

United States   Posted by annie on 08/24/08  at  04:14 PM





cyn

OK, I think all your loyal readers should unite (any seconds on that one??) and restrict your use of the Kindle so you have to spend equal time blogging. monkey dance  Just kidding, but I have to admit, I have a fair amount of withdrawal when you are not posting much!! 

Speeches at the DNC?  What do you think so far?  And what about Romney showing up in Denver with a “republican group of peeps” going on the attack.  Is he, in fact, going to be McCain’s pick or is this yet another of his totally calculated, totally planned ways of trying to buy the VP slot...........I just cannot stomach him.  He is the most programmed person I have ever seen. Stepford husband to go along with his Stepford wife and family.  Yeeeowwww

United States   Posted by cyn on 08/27/08  at  10:20 AM





Kate

Annie, I think it was a skinny little manual at best. smile It feels pretty quiet when they leave doesn’t it? I takes me a couple of days to stop feeling as if there’s a big hole in the daily fabric after he leaves. I’m loving not living at the grocery store anymore, though!!!

Hey Cyn! This week I added Anne of Green Gables to my Kindle. And Anne of Avonlea, too. There was a piece on NPR the other night about them that got me interested in reading them again with new eyes.  big surprise

One of these cold autumn days, I’ll get back into a more regular swing of (bloggy) things. We’re having an abundance of beautiful weather which means taking full advantage of it. I do believe we’re having September weather a month early—arguably the best month of the entire year. I hope it lasts all the way through September.

I’ve been cleaning up and clearing out. We’re having a neighborhood yard sale on the 13th. Now that the lad has departed I can find my living room floor (and the rest of my house) again. All my little projects that were on hold while he was home are now back on the front burner, too. Yesterday I spent the day away and came home with bags full of primer, paint, brushes, sand paper, and tack cloth. There will probably be pictures. smile

I’ve been out of the media loop. Mitt is in Denver? Bleh. I don’t like that man. Wish he’d fade into the woodwork. Stepford is the perfect way to describe him...with a fake tan.

I did hear Michelle Obama’s speech. It was one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard anywhere from anyone. Not exaggerating. I had no idea. She’d be a wonderful First Lady. One of the best in decades. We can only hope.

United States   Posted by Kate on 08/27/08  at  11:59 AM





justme

I take part of the blame of her not blogging that much this week red face  I made her come over and take me out before I went stir crazy! And we went to Lowes. And I wanted to look at paint chips. And and.... well, now she is in a zone.
And ya, I feel real guilty. Cause next week........ I am going to have her take me to start walking big surprise I have to be able to walk 2 miles kinda sorta pain free in about 4 weeks, ya like that’s gonna happen! So yell at me, not her lol.

United States   Posted by justme on 08/28/08  at  05:39 PM





cyn

Well I will include both of you in my withdrawal then!!  CUT IT OUT!! 

I miss her insight into this whole political process!!  And now, most especially with McCain’s pick.  This governor of Alaska, for 2 years (a wealth of experience, right?  ready to step in??  NOT!)--obviously has no self respect snce she was chosen because (1) she has a uterus - crude perhaps, but oh so true; (2) she opposes abortion; she has a uterus--oh wait I said that before; (5)she is a card carrying member of the NRA (sure makes my heart go pitter patter)

However, my aunt who was on the fence about Obama and was seriously considering McCain (she is 83, so can be forgiven), just emailed me and said with that pick, McCain is going to drive everyone into the Obama camp and she is definitely there.
Oh, my one consolation is that my son was wrong (political junkie son who has forgotten more about politics then most of us will ever know).  he predicted 6 months ago McCain would pick Condie Rice.............you don’t want me to go off on a rant about her.........damn Bush puppet.  LOL

KATE, we need you!!  LOL And as for you J--well, I will have to think about that....what can I do!!

United States   Posted by cyn on 08/29/08  at  04:04 PM





justme

LOL your to funny cyn! I for one am very glad he picked her. He just sunk his ship!
What does he really think he is going to get all of Hillary’s votes? What?

United States   Posted by justme on 08/30/08  at  07:57 AM





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