Timmy Goes to College--our trip to Notre Dame!! August 16-August 19, 2018

So, this is now done.  Timmy is in college.  He is out there on his own, doing great things...and I am still not being brave about this one.

 We took off on Thursday, after a long delay to wait for Anna (more on that later....) I was trying to get on the road by 9, but it was closer to 11:30 before we left.  Unfortunately, the problem with that is that no matter how hard we try, it takes the Gallaghers 12 hours to drive to Notre Dame from our home, so it was going to be a long, late night.

Odyssey of the Mind finals.  baseball games.  Fox rock summer league games.  Halloween--running to every house, shouting out what he had gotten.  Dinosaurs.  Bad baby. going for walks.  Watching shows with me.

On the way out, I was pretty good, until Rod Stewart's "Forever Young" started playing.  And then I was a mess.  I knew I would be, because we used that song for a pre-school graduation, and it was sad back then....imagine when  you are driving your child  to college?  

I copied these lyrics...:

Forever Young

Rod Stewart

May the good Lord be with you down every road you roam.
And may sunshine and happiness surround you when you're far from home.
And my you grow to be proud, dignified and true.
And do unto others as you'd have done to you.
Be courageous and be brave.
And in my heart you'll always stay

Forever young. (Forever young)
Forever young. (Forever young)

May good fortune be with you, may your guiding light be strong,
Build a stairway to heaven with a prince or a vagabond.
And may you never love in vain.
And in my heart you will remain

Forever young. (Forever young)
Forever young. (Forever young)
Forever young. Forever young

And when you fin'lly fly away, I'll be hoping that I served you well.
For all the wisdom of a lifetime, no one can ever tell.
But whatever road you choose, I'm right behind you win or lose,

Forever young. (Forever young)
Forever young. (Forever young)
Forever young. Forever young
For forever young

Timmy leaves for college, and I don't care that I am supposed to be happy for him. August 15, 2018

So, this summer has been so crazy, that Timmy leaving for college kind of crept up on me.  I mean, I was very much aware of it, but I had not done anything about it.  Which is why I just today took him to Target to get the things he needs for college, and why it is almost midnight and we are all pretty much still getting things together to get ready for our four day trip to drop him off at Notre Dame.

I really could not be happier for him, but I am so sad for me, and for our family, because we really need Timmy here.  I really need him here. Lily needs him here.  Matthew needs him here.  We just all need him here.  But, we are told that after high school, kids go to college, and so off to Notre Dame he goes.  But I have done this before with my oldest son, Jack, and looking back on it now, dropping him off at Notre Dame really was so much more than just dropping him off at college.  It was the end of my time with him as his mother, guiding him through life, getting him to where he needed to go....including, I guess, to Notre Dame.   And my heart is breaking because while I know Timmy is 18, almost going to be 19, in my heart, he is still this little boy.

He is about three in this picture...


This photo was taken almost exactly 12 years ago, which makes him 6, almost 7, and Matthew is 4 1/2.  And they are still very good to each other.

Happy Birthday to Anna!! August 8, 2018!

Anna turned 21 today!!   Unfortunately, Jack's move to Washington D.C. took over a little bit, so we decided that just us three girls would celebrate Anna's birthday.

I took a half-day at work, and Anna and Lily took the train and met me downtown on Market Street.

A day of Endings, and New Beginnings--Jack moves to DC, Anna turns 21!! August 8, 2018

This day was, for all intents and purposes, the end of Jack being at "home" here.  Because today, he moves to Washington, D.C.   Which means, he is no longer just a student, or a kid...he is now a grownup. But, of course, that leads to new beginnings.  Because today, Jack begins his life as a grown-up, as well.  He pays his rent, he pays for his clothing, and he even pays for his own health insurance, etc.   A young grown up, but a grown up.  Like a "what do you want to do when you grow up"  grown up.   Which is an ending, but also a great beginning.

And, it is also the end of Anna being...I guess a "girl."  Because today she turns 21.  She would be so sad if she saw this, because she doesn't like being told she is growing up.   And today was a definite milestone...now you can do anything, just about, as a grown up.  Another ending, another beginning. And I am so happy for both of them!  

Jack's last night home...so we go out! August 7, 2018

As I was walking over to start writing this blog, I saw this photo...and it caught me in my throat.  I remember this, as they say, like it was yesterday.  That is the thing about parenting, I guess.  Every photo I see brings you right back to that point in his or her life.   And this point was when it was just me,  Jack, and Chris.

And tomorrow he moves to Washington, D.C. To start his new life, not temporarily, or for a school year, but maybe, for forever. 

Leslie Gallagher Weekend--August 3-5th, 2018

My birthday is on February 4th, and I always think I get a raw deal.  Where we live, February is super cold, and there always seems to be a snow storm around my birthday.  On top of that, this year was Super Bowl Sunday, and the Eagles won, so I really got no attention.  Which was fine when my kids were younger, but now that they are older, I think that it is important to celebrate family events.

Which is why this weekend, which is my half-birthday, is Leslie Gallagher Weekend.

And this is how we celebrated:

Pizza Box

Iron Hill Brewery

NYC--Kinky Boots

And someday, my children will realize that the point behind Leslie Gallagher weekend was really Gallagher Family weekend.  I just haven't told them that yet.

First day of the last month of Summer--August 1, 2018 (8/1/18)

Today is kind of the beginning of the end of summer, which is very sad for me, because I really hate cold weather.  I am okay with the Fall, but in recent years, even a beautiful fall day has a glimmer of sadness,  because I realize that around the corner from those gorgeous fall days are days of sleet and snow.

I took off the day of work to go to various appointments.  First, Jack had an appointment for his right shoulder.  It looks like he needs surgery.  Ugh.  Then, I had physical therapy.  I really like my therapist, Bob.    Finally, Lily, Anna and I went to get eyebrows waxed, and other body parts which can't be mentioned on a public blog.

Because I get paid hourly, when I am off a day, I spend the whole day trying to get things done, instead of just enjoying (like relaxing...) the day off.  This is another reason why working is hard.  It makes the days "off" just days that you are preparing for the days of work.  I am not complaining...just saying.

Anyway, today is the first day of the last month of Summer.... and this year, it is also a palindrome (8/1/18).   Matthew will love that.