Me, I'm just plugging along, doing life, going to awesome concerts (Ben Folds 5 and Barenaked Ladies in the same night! With the Things!), not going to church (seriously, July, what happened?), being grateful for good health and general overall Okayness of my life. Like, nothing major has happened, much, which I suppose is fine.
Thing 1 starts college in just over a week. Did I mention that? Yep - college. He's going to get an associate's degree, then decide if he wants to head on into a 4-year college. I'm thinking yes, but he needs to conquer the A.S. first. I have confidence that he will land on his feet wherever he goes, and hope that he finds his niche.
Speaking of, does anyone know of a local jazz band or orchestra a young man can play in? Because, apparently, music is what he's going to miss the most. I understand this, and hope also that he can find something in the area he can participate in that will whet his appetite for creativity. I told him that if he can find something, he should START something. A nice brass quintet, surely there must be other students who have a love for music and a need for an outlet? Plus which, they can gig at holidays and such to make some money. Money always good, esp. when there are books to pay for.
He and I had a conversation the other day about college and costs and if there was a college fund for him. Well, there is, of a sort, but nowhere near what I'd like it to be. So I told him what my folks told me: college is paid for, don't worry about it. It helps that he's going to a community college first, which will cost a grand total of $1400 bucks a semester if he takes 16 credit hours. Not including books. I can do that price for a couple of years...then get him applying to scholarships like mad in the meanwhile. I appreciate that he's concerned, and love that he raised the issue, and hope that him knowing it's paid for will help him reach farther than he might have otherwise. We will make it work. Of course, I made it clear he's going to an instate public college, because ain't nobody got the pockets for Duke around heayah.
Then there's the matter of braces. And wisdom tooth extraction. And HS starting up again, and schedules that need to be changed, and testing to be done so placements can be made, and it's a wonder how people with actual hobbies besides drinking can stand it. Summer is so fleeting, so calm, so rampant with idleness that its very briefness is to be celebrated in the most low-key way possible. Mostly that involves watching terrible movies and forgetting bedtimes. Life is good here in this time, even if I have a fever and snotty nose and headache and clogged up chest.
Because I do, but why write about that temporary state of being? With enough pharmacology in me I'll defeat the monstrous germs and be back to well-being before too long.
But now I must go. All this typing and thoughtiness has exhausted me, and I need to go think about Christmas.
Tiff out.
5 comments:
That is, if the CAN'T find something musically, he should start something. I'm too lazy to go back and edit.
Christmas???? Whatever brought that on?
Thing One is a keeper, for certain. It is really nice of him to be concerned about the costs, because wherever he goes, they will end up being more than he thought.
I have friends in the Raleigh concert band; I'll ask about how he could join - or find out what they're about. But starting something in the genre he's interested in sounds great to me.
Hope you both feel better soon.
My son stayed in-state (and at home) to save o costs while in college. It is process with many different roads.
Here's to your feeling better soon(er).
My dad once told me... don't let college get in the way of your education...
I think his dad gave him the same advice... therefore, it must be worth passing along.
If the braces are too costly, try the dental school at Duke if they're nearby. Or any nearby dental school for that matter.
They do good work for half or less what an orthodontist would cost.
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