tedwords

"So I came home and I realized I was all alone. You know? And figured I had the pool all to myself. Went upstairs, got changed into my swim trunks. Five seconds later, Theo runs in with two teen-age boys. There goes that swim."

I could hear the irritation in Corb's voice, but chose to ignore it. "Good thing you decided to wear a bathing suit," I sniggered.

That's been the story of Corb's life the past few weeks. Friday night, Theo decided to have ten of his best friends over for a pool and Smash Brothers party. Six of them decided to stay over. Did one of his lady friends? Damned if I know. It was not a happy day for Corb, especially coming as it did during his sainted birthday week-end. Plus, Corb's been bickering a bit with Ashes, about foolish things, like where we are going to have supper or whether she really needs to take the entire bottle of Tylenol to go to Josie's house, when just a few will really do.

What this all really means is it's the end of the summer and the kids are starting to get on his nerves.

I keep trying to remind him of one thing, however. In seven days, all his worries and irritations are over. Because this time next week...well...

BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE!

Oh...wait...did I sound a little excited about that?

I mean...empty nest syndrome. No little feet pattering around. I can completely walk around my house naked for days on end if I want. I won't have to buy lunches, pick anyone up. I'll have complete control of the TV remote. The music on the car. Won't have to drive the kids to work. Won't have to worry about them coming home late.

Yeah, that's kind of sad.

*giggle*

BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE!

No, no, NO! I will miss them, really I will!

And truth be told, this has been an awesome summer. Theo has been out all summer long partying with his friends and even Ashes, after that one bumpy night at the start of the summer, has actually had some great months. She's seen a ton of friends, gone out to clubs, slept over houses, had a huge birthday bash, and worked all summer long.

Maybe the kids are growing up. Maybe they're no longer so dependent on us. Maybe they won't be there every night the way they were. Not the way it used tpo be, back in the tiny apartment I moved into after moving out of the Homnestead. Ashes, doing her homeowork and singing songs about herpes of the armpit. Theo, watching Doctor Who with me every night in our fold-out bed, as I served him tea and chocolate chip cookies.

Yeah, I will miss that. Such great times. Great memories. And only seven more days to go. And then Theo is a freshman in college and Ashes is a senior for the first time (but probably not the last) and the house is kind of quiet. Just me and Corb and the three cats and dog and eight ghosts. Not-so full a house. It's going to feel weird.

And yet...

BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE! BOTH KIDS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE! WE ARE TOTALLY GOING TO BE HOME ALONE!

Hmmm. Not tired of that one, yet!