"We're just going to leave him?"

That was what Charlie asked me as we were leaving Casey today. He said "It just feels weird to leave him here all by himself" and he was right. Even though the reality was that there were thousands of kids also moving in with-in a few block area of UNT's campus, walking out of that dorm room and leaving Casey there not knowing anyone...it was hard. But, he was ready. This is what I've raised him for; to be prepared, to feel secure and to look forward to this next step of growing up that is college.


I took Saturday and Sunday off from work to get Casey packed (which entailed about six loads of laundry), sorting out what he had that was Charlies and what Charlie had that was Caseys, and helping the boys trade rooms which was like moving but without the boxes and U-Hauls.

Here is my baby before we left this morning.


















Charlie rode with Casey, and both of our cars were pretty much packed. Since my camera quit on me in Casey's dorm room ( I desperately need a new camera, mine is hit and miss the last few months, mostly miss) I'll give you the pictures I did get. Casey and Charlie passing me on the way to UNT:






















and one of them in front of me in Denton (this pic is for anne):



















Casey's room was on the third floor and, of course, there were no elevators. The stairways were packed with sweating kids and parents carrying televisions, refrigerators and microwaves. There were a few things we'd forgot to bring, but nothing major. So all in all, it went pretty smooth.

Charlie and I were pretty quiet on the way home, most of the talking was from Charlie. He mentioned several times how weird it was just walking off and leaving Casey there. As weird as that was, the hardest part for me was coming home to a house without him.

We've been a solid trio (Casey, Charlie and I) for this past year. I'm going to miss him very much. I'll miss his telling me he loves me for no reason; and when I'd say 'I love you, too', he'd always reply "love you more". He had no idea how impossible that was. I'll miss his humor, his jokes, and his friendship every day he's not here.

What an amazing young man I left at UNT today. Lucky UNT.

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