Emma Jane to College

We are back from taking Emma Jane to college.  She and I spent last week gathering her things, shopping for new things and eating lunch together.  It was great fun, but I am now tired of shopping.  Pops just rolls his eyes when I tell him this.  He thinks I could shop forever.  Obviously, he has never been on a shopping trip for swimsuits for all three daughters and myself.  Shopping is now always fun (more on that later)

Our big red SUV rolled out of the driveway loaded down at seven in the morning headed for Furman University in Greenville, SC.  We had a roof top carrier,  a hitch haul, and the car loaded completely.  We forgot to pack  two items;  the rainboots and the television.  The girls think Pops left the TV on purpose because he said he didn't ever  have a TV in college and college kids never watch TV anyway. 

The move could not have happened more smoothly.  We were greeted at the door of the dorm by girls eager to help unload Emma Jane's belongings.  Pops and Elle were happy for the help since I am still walking with crutches.  We hit a snafu  when the cartop carrier refused to unlock.  Handy Pops unscrewed the hinges with one of the many tools he brought to save the day. 

Most people leave after they move their children into their rooms.  Not so for us. We believe in getting to know everyone on campus before leaving our sweet baby there all alone.   There were several parent and family events to be attended both Friday and Saturday.  On Saturday Eliza Kate rolled into Greenville to help with the move.  Using the word "Help" may be grossly exaggerated.  Eliza Kate and Elle were completely at ease in Emma's room and immediately settled into the bed and got comfortable while Emma unpacked and rearranged the room, giving advice but not lifting a finger.  Sisters to the core.  The sisters were sweet enough to buy Emma Jane a fish because she could not take her cat Sookie with her.  I call the fish George but have been told his name is Jorje (pronounced Hor-hay). 

We met the President of the college, Emma's advisor, the cafeteria staff, and one of the librarians.  Had we been there longer, we would have made a point to meet the maintenance staff and the cooks at the cafeteria.  These are some of the most important people on campus.  Treat these people with love and respect for they make life easier and more pleasant.  President Smolla spoke to all parents on Friday afternoon and left not a dry eye.  I was doing just fine until his speech.  He left the students with the message that while at Furman, they would learn that life is "not all about you."  Pops and I were pleased with that the university supports something we have been trying to teach our girls. 

After leaving Emma Jane we went to downtown Greenville.  We decided to use the wheelchair and have Pops, Eliza, and Elle alternate as pushers since I was not too keen on using the crutches for the ten or so blocks of downtown.   The rides at Six Flags do not invoke as much fear as being pushed down the hill toward the Reedy River by Pops.  He thinks he was providing me with a fun ride.  We hit a bump one time that almost catapulted me out of the wheel chair and into the street.  Perhaps wheelchairs should have seat belts quipped Eliza Kate.  Perhaps you should watch where you are going I not so politely replied.

We visited Mast General Store where Eliza thought it would be fun to have me to get a feel for what it was like for her to go to the mall in a stroller and get lost in the clothing rack.  She also enjoyed pointing out and laughing at all the clothes she says  I would have totally worn 10 years ago when I was teaching.  (Have I mentioned that she is 22 years old.)  We have reached a different plateau in our Mother daughter relationship.  Elle seems to be the most tenderhearted and compassionate wheelchair driver, although she is not much on stamina.  I suppose she knows that since she is the only child at home, she better be nice to the one who feeds her. 

Goonies Poster Chunk Truffle Shuffle Movie Poster

Ikea, Emma Jane and a Wheelchair

Yesterday, I went with Emma Jane to IKEA.   We were looking for a duvet cover for Emma Jane to take to college next week.   She is leaving for Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina on Friday.  We took the wheelchair with us because I didn't think I could crutch it around the entire store and I didn't want to miss anything.  Emma Jane has taken to calling me "Crutch" now. She enjoys this moniker and may start using it rather than Mom.

Emma Jane is a very bright person.  She has a memory like a computer.  Once information is input into her brain, it stays there and she can recall it very easily.  We do not argue with her about facts because she is correct 99% of the time. Okay, well we do argue with her from time to time just to see her reaction to our challenge.  It is fun to upset her apple cart.  She is a voracious reader and has a book collection which is rapidly spreading into every room of the house like the  untended ivy in my flower bed.

My first experience with her pushing the wheelchair was a week ago at Bed Bath &Beyond again looking at college things.  Emma Jane rearranged the aisles in BB&B so that she could turn the corner with "Crutch" in  he wheelchair.  A few corners were just too tight and we knocked things off the shelves.  Sorry to BB&B.  On the straight away aisles, Emma Jane would pick up speed and lift herself up on the handles and get a free ride.  Fun for her, frightening for me.  She informed me that I was not to touch anything because it could slow down our process.  I feared loosing an arm if I didn't obey her rules. 

IKEA has a huge undergound parking lot which requires an elevator to get to the shopping level.  Our first obstacle was the elevator.  We rode it all the way up and all the way down before deciding which level to exit.  We decided to visit the restroom before shopping.  I wish there were some way to purchase the hand dryer in IKEA.  The force of the air coming from the dryer forced all the wrinkles out of my hands and up to my elbows.  Think what it could do to the wrinkles elsewhere.

I thought  that Emma Jane had learned the art of wheelchair pushing on our last adventure.  I was wrong.   As I mentioned, she is very bright. She has an ability to hyperfocus which allows her to take in great amounts of information without any distraction. I was not the object of her hyperfocus at IKEA. I was the distraction she managed to avoid.  Emma Jane was captivated by all the innovative and sleek furniture and storage options.   So captivated in fact that she often would wander off leaving me in the middle of an aisle blocking traffic, telling me  "Be right back Cructch."  I would apologize as people tried to get past with their carts while looking at me as if I were an abandoned child.  (This wheelchair does not have large wheels that I could have used to get out of the way.)  She did always come back for me.  I was the one with the credit card.  It pays to have an American Express.

We did find a pretty duvet cover named Renate Blom.  She also got yellow and green towels to go with it as well as polka dot sheets at Target.  It was a great day with Emma Jane.  We laughed and shopped and talked.  I can't think of a better way to spend the day with a daughter.




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White Water Rafting

White water rafting can be a great experience.  On this hot July 17 afternoon, it was not such a great experience for me.  We met our guides and got outfitted at the Nantahala Outdoor Center for the Ocoee River.  We loaded the bus and were driven to the river.   Our daughters were jealous of our Brad Pitt lookalike guide named "Cartwheel".   The trip was fine until we hit a class 3 rapid and I took a bounce very wrong and broke my leg.  I was taken out of the raft up a steep rocky bank by six guides and Pops (my husband).  The photographer who follows the river route stopped to give my husband and I  a ride back to the NOC so we could pick up a car and drive to the hospital. 

After all was said and done and I saw an orthopedist at home, it was determined, indeed that my tibia had been fractured and I was to stay off of it for at least 3 weeks, maybe more.

I am in week two of the healing process.  Because there is not much to do when one cannot walk around, I am starting again with the blogging and hope to have more succes than I have in the past.  Be patient with me because I am just learning how to do this picture thing.

Below is the picture of the kids and our guides.  Can you pick out the Brad Pitt lookalike?