KattyWilly

Did you know that peacocks like peanuts?

Yesterday was a big day. Lindsey got her regular driver’s license. We
were sitting in the waiting area for our number to be called and were
talking about plans for this weekend. I have to try and schedule
everything between the girls and I so I can get everyone where they need
to go and still get my grocery shopping and yard work done. I was
hoping to get together with one of the neighbors on Saturday and I asked
Lindsey what she was doing. She told me about a couple of things that
she was going to do and I started to figure out how the driving schedule
was going to work when we both realized that I didn’t need to figure out
the driving schedule. She didn’t need me to be the driver anymore. In
a few moments she would have a “real” driver’s license complete with a
not so flattering photo, and she could drive herself. There was a short
little pause in the conversation and then I told her, “I’VE LOST YOU!”,
“YOU DON’T NEED ME ANY MORE!”

For the past three years I have been trying to prepare myself for the
time when the girls went off to college and I would be “home alone”.
I’ve always known that as the girls become teens they would start
spending more and more time with their friends, boyfriends included, and
would be less interested in doing things with me. Lindsey has been very
good about inviting me to go to dinner and school events with her
friends, partly because I was able to drive, but it was still a nice
thing to let me tag along and spend time with her.

So last night her transition to independence started. She drove over to
her friend’s house and then to the Target to shop and then went over to
the Chinese take out for dinner. She called to see if we wanted her to
bring home something for us, just like I used to do when I’m out running
errands.

I survived the evening. Tried to keep busy and not worry about her out
on the road with all those crazy drivers.

But the worst part is the realization that the girls are growing up so
fast and will soon be off to college. I will be home alone. The good
thing is that it is a gradual transition. They leave a little bit at a
time. I keep trying to find ways to enjoy this time as much as I can.

One from the South Atlantic Regional competition.

And one from the pumpkin patch, with a little hurricane Wilma after effects wind blown hair.

And as of Wednesday afternoon Lindsey will be able to drive this on her own.

So as I sit here at the mall watching the folks in line at the
Starbucks and I’m noticing that there are a bunch of folks looking
like something out of Star Trek. They all have these little bluetooth
headsets attached to their ears. It looks pretty weird if you ask me.

There are also some skaters on the rink that have come over from the
competition at the Oldsmar rink. I’ve seen some other kids with hair
decorations and all sorts of makeup and sparkles. Skaters hanging out
at the mall after competing.

I’m blogging on some tasty free Wi-Fi at the local Westfield mall. I
used to pay for a one day access, but today I opened up the laptop and
just surfed away. Yee Haa!

I’m the designated parent for the teen girl shoppers. I sit at the
Starbucks next to the ice rink and can enjoy a cup of coffee, surf the
net, and watch the kids skate at the same time. Every now and then I
become the daddy ATM and have to hand out some spending money.

Spent some time at the rink tonight. I was going to volunteer my help to the folks setting everything up for the 2006 South Atlantic Regional Championships.
I didn’t have too much time to share but as it turned out they didn’t
really have much to do while I was there. So I sat in the
bleachers and watched the skaters from all over the southeast skating
during the practice sessions.

It really made me have a sense of pride in our local rink and skating clubs.

Had a Cindy dream last night. This time she was happy and looked great,
wearing some sort of angel white knit top and white pants.  This
dream was different from all other dreams I’ve had of Cindy in that I
actually touched her. Nothing dramatic just a gentle touch. That is a
first. But of course as soon as the subconscious loses it’s
control over the conscious mind I wake up. Not anything like the mood of Judy. Instead I had serene sense of calm and wonder.

And then on the way to work I stopped off at the bagel place I used to
go to. I went in and ordered my usual Salt bagel with cream
cheese. They give you enough cream cheese for three bagels.
I used to order one salt with cream cheese and one plain plain and then
put half the cheese on the plain. I can’t eat that much anymore
so I just loose half the cream cheese. Anyway I went over to grab
an O.J. from the cooler and a young lady (almost young enough to be my daughter) was reaching for her morning
jolt of caffeine, aka Mountain Dew. She said something like, “need
my morning wake up”. I smiled an held the door of the cooler for
her. I paid for my bagel and as I left she wished me a great
day. It felt really strange. I don’t know how to describe
it, a similar sense of calm and perhaps happiness from my morning dream flowed over me.
Wierd.

Some days “it’s all too much“.  I’ve been using David’s work to try and give Lindsey little lessons on Photography.  Some days he will give me an example of depth of field. And other times he gives us examples of amazing photographs that are so incredible I have no words to describe them.