How is Eric doing at college?
Is he surviving?
Does he like it?
Is he getting settled in?
What about his roommates?
How are his classes?
These are all very good questions.....questions I'm still trying to find the answers to. Okay, that's not entirely true. I do know he likes it. I know he's working really hard in all of his classes. I think he is settled in, for the most part. He likes his roommates a lot, and for not having known any of them before moving in, that's wonderful! And he and the the guy he rooms with get along great....another big plus! I know he's meeting lots of new people.....some of whom are girls! Will he share any names, you ask? NO, he won't. We have skyped with Eric once since he's been gone. He has been home one weekend, and I don't talk to him every single day. I do text him most days. He has called a couple of times, and both times I have answered the phone, he has asked for someone else (Kyle and Dad). I'm still trying to get over that one (or both)! In a nutshell, he seems to really be enjoying himself.....staying up too late, laughing hard, being independent, and loving the "country life." :)
Of course, college isn't all flowers and roses either. Eric wasn't getting fed regularly the first couple weeks of school because the college was doing some construction on the dining hall. Before you jump to conclusions like I did, and complain that, "hey, we paid for you to get 3 meals a day. You'd better be getting them," in reality they were still serving 3 meals a day, but in a slightly different place and only at certain times throughout the day. I had to call the school and ask what was going on with the meal/food card. I saved my son from starving.....and did I get a thank you? Nope. :)
I sent Eric some bug repellent after the first couple of days of school, because he was getting bit by mosquitos, and he usually swells up pretty bad. He doesn't have a car, so I thought it would be easiest just to mail him some. That was roughly 4 weeks ago. He still hasn't gotten his mail because, "I don't know where to get it and I don't have time to find out." To that I say, enjoy your bug bites!
And here is a text conversation between us that I need to share with all posterity....preface: Eric had a sore throat a couple of weeks ago.
Eric: (6 pm) My friend gave me this lemon herbal tea stuff for my throat...can I drink that?
Mom: (6:34 pm) Yeah, if its just an herbal tea, that's ok.
Eric: (7:55 pm) I didn't know we weren't supposed to open the tea bag and dump the leaves into the drink..
Mom: (8:46 pm) (me, hysterically laughing while texting) Thanks for the laugh, Eric. That is hilarious. Did you drink the leaves?
Eric: (9:22 pm) No, I just dumped it out...I ended up just using honey and lemon instead. Mitch bought onion for his sinuses, too. I don't think that'll help my throat, though. :/
Mom: (9:24) Honey and lemon is probably the best for u. U can take some tylenol too, but don't take more than 2. Hope u feel better. (and then more laughing just for the fun of it)....
And here's another one:
Eric: Okay, I have no idea where my suit pants are! D: They're gone! They must've fallen off the hanger, or something as I was coming back home on Monday.
Mom: You lost your pants? Could they be in Jayme's car?
Eric: Ya, probably.
Mom: Well, check first and see if they turn up. I'd hate to have you go buy another pair.
Eric: Ya, I'll still be looking for it. And uhh..I don't wanna have to buy new pants..how much would they cost?
Mom: At Walmart, you might be able to find a pair for $25 until we can get you some nicer ones. Or could you borrow some from a roommate for a few weeks? Or maybe I could mail you a pair?
Eric: I could maybe do that. I've got a pair, but they're gray, not black, so they don't match. :/ But if you could send me some, that'd be great. (like that's gonna happen...I'm still waiting for him to get his bug spray)
Mom: You have another pair there with you at school?
Eric: Ya
Mom: Then why can't you just wear those?
Eric: I need a black pair for my vest, though too. :/ If I don't find them anywhere else soon, I'll probably just go buy a pair.
Mom: Can't u wear your vest with the gray ones?
Eric: Maybe, it looks weird.
Mom: Why do u need black pants for your vest? It would go with gray. Don't just go buy some yet...wait a little to see if we find them.
Eric: I'll wait a bit.
Never a dull moment. And he never found his pants, by the way, so when he comes home next, I have a new pair for him here. I did get a thank you for that one! :)
And there have been other random things happen on occasion, to which I say, "Good luck Eric. This year is going to be soooo good for you! You are learning so much!"
I am proud of how hard he is working in school. He is putting a lot of time into his classes and I am grateful for that. I think Eric is coming home this weekend for a missionary farewell.....it will be interesting to see if I get to see him at all. It sure is different having one child out of the house...I'm just trying to slow down the "growing up" of my other children. It's going way too fast!
