They know how to move you in

Okay, I need to quickly catch up with the new school year. At the VERY beginning of this year I had my first experience with college move-in -- as a dad. A college is a big enterprise, but I now have a greater appreciation for how well the College does this function (You could say it is one of their core functions, which is easily missed by academics like me who think narrowly about their subject and knowledge acquisition). Such a convergence of people, objects, and things (on a hot day) seems like a recipe for chaos -- but it all worked quite smoothly even for someone doing it for the first time. You see, the university understands the import of this event and is well armed with volunteers and personnel to help at every step.

Of course, it is the parents who need it (support) most as they deal with the combined emotions of relief and fear . . . the kids dive right in. And even though I have the "advantage" of working on campus and not all that far from my student as other parents (though I doubt we cross paths that much with my perch "way over" in Conway Hall -- like other parents I suppose I will depend on her cell phone to let me know how she is doing), I felt a lot more relief than anything. I did, however, leave with the thought of her giving up a nice comfortable room at home for the smaller dorm room with bunk beds or a loft . . . I guess I have simply gotten old and lost my desire for adventure.