Back to School

This morning, I had a rare meeting, and since it was all the way on the other side of the Big O, I volunteered to pick up books for Ricardo at UNO for fall classes. He needs those books so that he can continue ruining the curve in each of his classes and all. I suppose I should have known when his eyes lit up and he acted all "COULD YA PLEASE?! REALLY!? OKAY! THANKS!"

Some couples have the same personalities. Ricardo and I have very complimenting personalities. I talk, he listens. Well, he appears to listen, he nods and acknowledges that noise is coming from my vicinity. And really ladies, that's all we really need, right? I laugh loudly, usually at all of his funny jokes, and on occasion I point and laugh at him. I am annoying and eager. He is calm, cool, and awesome. When we get home from a party, he can tell me everything everyone said, I can review what I said. And he needs only food for sustenance, and if there's a bathroom and fresh water, that's bonus. I need to spend money on something shiny and new every day. So, when he got all excited about me picking up his books, I figured it would be nice to do something for him. And books are shiny and new. So this will work out great.

Ricardo texted me what books to get for what classes or whatever. I'm trying to remember what I did in college. I think I went to class the first day, and had the professor hold up the book, so I could totally judge the book by the cover and then go get it. That's clearly the ways of the solid C student I was. But he's all over achiever with getting his books before class even starts. Whatever. Right before I walk out the door to my meeting and then to get his books at the bookstore on campus, he zips by and barely says, "Oh by the way, I think today might be the first day of classes, so you might have a hard time finding parking."

He was right, parking was a wee bit difficult. The good news is I was a visitor, and my minivan has lots of quarters for gumball machines and temporary tattoos. So, I had change for the meter and all. I headed toward the student center/book store. What the heck? There's twenty year olds everywhere. And is that a live band covering the Black-Eyed Peas? What, what? And then I remembered where I was, I was on a college campus on the first day of school. I looked around. And realized I had no backpack, I'd just rolled up in my minivan, and oh yeah...I'm 36 years old.

I texted Ricardo, "This place is crawling with twenty year olds and there's a live band here! When I get home you're going to need to tell me how pretty and young I am. They didn't have this at WT when I was there."

Ricardo re-assured me that I am pretty and young and then he thanked me for getting his books. I walked out of the book store poor and reflected on my lazy days of college. Walking by each kid, I could see hope for their future in their eyes. And then I realized, by day three, they'll be sleeping in til noon, ignoring bills, hoping they'll just go away, skipping classes, breaking up with their significant others, gathering all of their change in their ashtray for a run to Taco Bell, and calling mom and dad for money. I hopped in my car and thought, "Is Thursday night still bar night in college?" And then I drove back home in my minivan that's paid for, to my home with a full fridge and balanced bank account, well adjusted kids, and my husband that still likes me. Life at 36 is good.

College made me feel old today. And grateful.
That's how I roll.
Song of the day: Better Days by Eddie Vedder