Mentally preparing for Friday

On Friday we take Bryan to Penn State to move him into his dorm. I'm so excited for him - starting a whole new chapter of his life, expanding his world, meeting new people, experiencing more independence and adjusting to the ups and downs of life without the full safety net of parents nearby.

I'm not at all worried about how he will adjust. I'm worried how I'll be! I guess its like the first time you put them on the school bus. I am sentimentally sad for the chapter that's ending.

I wouldn't have it any other way than him heading off to college. We're proud of him. We enjoy having him around, laughing, getting the groceries out of my trunk, troubleshooting our computers ... all the day-to-day stuff.

My friends tell me that before you know it they're home again and you're both testing each other's limits!!! Until that day, I know he'll be fine. But will we?!?

On the lake today

Today was a perfect day for a kayak on the lake ...

Don, the lake and blue skies

Approaching St Hubert's chapel

Checking out the beaver dam, one of two on the lake.
We didn't see the beaver today but he has swum along beside us in the past.

Heading south on Lake Kinnelon.

Tattoos

My theory on tattoos:
If you think you need (need???) a tattoo, get a henna. Live with it, experience it, let it fade. If you still really need a tattoo, get another henna. If after that one fades, you still want a tattoo, get another henna. And so on.

Really, why ever get a permanent marking on your skin? Just like clothes, tattoos seem to go in and out of style. It was once (very recently) cool to get your lower backside tattooed and now there's a not-so-kind name for those tattoos. Who knew? They were cool at the time.

I am all for doing what you "need" to do especially when it doesn't hurt others, but do you really know in your teens and 20's what you're going to want to wear for the rest of your life???

Carolyn got a henna (sorry for my lack of focus):

It is cute but I'm glad it will fade. She got it on the boardwalk in Ocean City, MD, while visiting with her MD friend.

Bryan was asked to design a tattoo for a friend. They're all 18 now so can get it done without parental consent. Bryan enjoys doodling and his designs were used for a school event this spring. A friend asked him to work up of couple of designs that he might then consider for a tattoo design. The friend liked one design as is and had it inked onto his upper arm a few weeks ago. He showed me and actually, I am surprised to say, I liked it! Maybe because it was Bryan's design but not Bryan's arm!?

To each his own. I just don't get it (and I guess I don't have to).

The Frasers do NYC

A few weeks ago my brother and his family visited. We don't get to see each other much but even with the time gap we seem to pick up where we last left off, which usually means we were giving each other a hard time.

As usual, I'll tell the story of their visit with photos. This first collage shows a few fooling around faces. That's Haley and Carolyn, looking more and more alike these days, then Toby sporting Cole's shades, Cole in Cole's shades, and Don and I in Little Italy - hot and bothered, literally!


Here are the more serious faces: Haley, Carolyn and Cole waiting for their grub, Vicki and John glad to be seated for a respite from walking in humidity, and Don and I with "normal" faces.

This last collage could be titled "Cole in the City." As you can see, he's not too much of a ham!!! Cole made lots of friends in NYC. His new friends and us will look forward to his return! And we didn't find the Ca$h Cab - next time!

Next time it is our turn to visit the Frasers in their neck of the woods (redwoods, that is). Did I hear someone offering me a little Rodney Strong Sauvignon Blanc? Taxi ...