I'm Not in High School Anymore!

Residency. It seems like a fairly simple concept. You either live somewhere, or you don't, unless you are dealing with institutions of higher education. And then residency becomes a complicated matter requiring affidavits, testimonials, utility bills, state ID and begging.

Here in New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, UNM admits any student who has moved to the state for employment as an enchanted resident. No higher tuition. I qualify. Hip hip hooray! (And I am enrolled.)

In Utah, the "This is the Place" state, SLCC seems to have an issue with the fact that Kalen traveled to Brazil on a Rotary Exchange (as a student from Brighton High School, I might add) and is telling her that "this is not the place"(ie: they consider her a non-resident), thus warranting higher tuition to them.

Why is this so difficult? Kelly had a similar problem at SUU. She fought for two years before they finally figured it out. Maybe it's a conspiracy of some kind!

Seriously, it seems to me that an underage student, still registered with Brighton High School and living in SLC with her step-dad upon return from Brazil prior to renting her own apartment in the "This is the Place" city, should be a resident student. Done.

This is not brain surgery.

I am certain it will all work itself out, but today I had to chuckle after offering to help Kalen by making a call to SLCC with an explanation of her residency.

Kalen's response?

"I am not in high school anymore. Don't call, Mom. I will take care of it."

OK! Deal! Touche! Onward and upward! I'm here if you need me! You go girl!

I remember those days after high school, it truly was a joyous time. I loved making my own decisions, coming and going as I pleased, living on my own, decorating for the first time in colors other than the avocado green that my Dad had painted everything in my bedroom, and sleeping whenever I wanted (and not sleeping whenever I wanted).

Those were the days...and days they were. Not months, years, decades, but days, possibly weeks, because it wasn't too long before those high school days of yore looked fairly decent in retrospect (without the silliness and drama, of course) and living as an island became a bit lonely. But I wouldn't change a thing. It was a learning experience.

And now it's Kalen's turn. And I am behind her 100%, silently now, adrift from the island shore, and I will row in closer and be a bit louder when and if she needs me in the future, but no matter what, my role as Mom has now changed forever. My little girl isn't in high school anymore and that's a fact.

So, for now, I will enjoy a lemonade while sitting on my front patio in the Land of Enchantment, and smile as I think about my Mom and how she watched from a distance after I left home too, and also smile with thoughts of Kalen forging into the world with determination, smarts and a quick wit...with her Mom watching from a distance.

Residency? Pffft.

She'll get it. After all, she is a resident of the state of Utah and has been for several years. It's simple. But she is dealing with higher ed and folks with advanced degrees.

Which begs the question...why do overeducated folks have to make things so difficult? Maybe I don't want to get my degree, even if I do have residency....or maybe I do so that I can think in the same detailed fashion and overcomplicate things even more.....hmmm, I better think about this.

Back to lemonade, it's much easier.....

High School Musical

Growing Pains

At almost 55, I am no longer experiencing growing pains of the normal type. My body is no longer stretching to its full height, with bones creaking in the process.

No, the growing pains I am experiencing are different. My kids have grown up and I am in pain! It's a duplicitous pain, one moment it's the feeling of loss because I am now OFFICIALLY an empty nester, but the other moment it's a feeling of joy, because I am now OFFICIALLY an empty nester. It's exhausting, this back and forth stuff. Pain builds character, but this is ridiculous!

Kalen, my youngest, rented her first apartment today. She will be sharing a 3 bedroom, 1 bath duplex with 2 other girls, one of them from Brazil! I am so excited for her!

She is already planning her decorating style, buying kitchen supplies and arranging her furniture in her mind. Tomorrow she moves in.

Tomorrow I am officially without children at home. After 32 years...

Oh no!

Oh yes!

Oh my!

Oh dear! I am not sure what I will do with myself...but something tells me I will figure it out, after all, my kids did.

They grew up. They figured it out. They built their own nests.

I have one too. I have an empty nest.

Ow...I mean, wow!

Yellowcard "Empty Apartment"

Just me and Willie

There was a time in my life when I ached for road trips....and the beach, but that's a topic for another post.

I still love road trips. They clear my mind. As a friend says (more or less) there's nothing like seeing dust in the rear view mirror.

Well, yes, pretty much, sort of...that's almost true. The past few months have given me ample opportunity to see dust in my rear view mirror as I have trekked back and forth and back and forth between Albuquerque and Salt Lake City as if it was a normal commute. At this point, I am ready to see my rear view mirror laying in the dust somewhere, while I sit on a camp chair and drink something wonderful with NOWHERE to go!

Life has been hectic, but every trip has been worth it, no matter how much I am complaining at this moment. It could be a result of my sore bottom, a lack of sleep, two new lines beneath my eyes, a dwindling back account due to so much travel, or..........MAYBE it's because I got a ticket last night.

Yep, I did. I was not happy about it either. No signs, no warning, two lanes, but I was ticketed for passing in a no passing zone.

If it hadn't been so late, if it hadn't been dark, if he hadn't looked like a typical, irritatingly macho and very skinny UT trooper, I probably would have done a quick U-Turn after signing on the dotted line and gone back to take pictures.

But I was tired, and he was ornery and I just kept moving forward, irritated as hell, but moving forward.

I have always enjoyed dust in my rear view, and I am certain I will again....but last night, I enjoyed seeing that skinny uniform disappear IN the dust in my rear view. And it won't be long before I am back in the saddle, so to speak.

I may not ACHE for road trips these days and Southern Utah will be a bit richer when I pay my fine and I will be a bit poorer, but no one can take away my love of seeing the dust in my rear view. Not even a skinny uniformed trooper in the middle of the night.

On the road again...........but I am taking my camp chair along.

Willie Nelson "On the Road Again"

What It's All About

Family. That's what it's all about, and this is "my bunch".

What a brood! Aren't they grand?!?!

This picture was taken at Kelly's SUU graduation weekend, but the weekend became a mega-4-days of stuff coming out of nowhere.

Karynn had just delivered Kierstyn (very early), Kalen had just returned from Brazil (very early), Kyle and Kurt had flown out from NY and DC (right on time) and Kollin* had just started his Kenpo studio in SLC (way overdue!)... (and Kelly was about to get engaged (eternal), but none of us knew that, including Kellers). Woohooo!

What more can I say? Life just keeps on comin' and I couldn't be prouder of my kids.

Just FYI - (*tag on Kollin's shirt: "Hello, my name is Indigo Montoyo. You killed my father. Prepare to die.") I have no explanation. A mother's love is unconditional.

Simon Collins "Unconditional"

Celine Dion "A Mother's Prayer"