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There she goes
Monday, August 2, 2010 at 06:44PM 
Eureka! She's left home.
I knew it would eventually happen but I still can't believe it.
Erica is the only one of my four kids who could have done it: come back to live with her parrots for two years after earning a college degree.
Stephanie finished college in three years and got married scarcely eight weeks after graduation. That let her out.
Audrey is too independent; Andrew is too restless.
That left The Boo.
Although she's the third of four children, she's the youngest girl. Somehow she's always been the baby of the family.
A few weeks ago Erica got a call from the principal of a private Christian day school.
He needed a fifth grade teacher.
A flurry of activity ensued, making heavy use of cell phone towers, the Internet, and the Interstate.
Oh ... and my nerves.
Long story short, Miss Weber is the new fifth grade teacher at Peoples Baptist Academy, a ministry of Peoples Baptist Church of McDonough, Georgia ... "The Geranium City."
Yes! The Geranium City! You read that correctly. And only twenty-five miles south of Atlanta.
So far her class is small and ... are you ready for this? All boys.
At least she'll have plenty of volunteers when a spider or a snake shows up in the classroom or on the playground!
School starts on August eleventh.
Erica's leave-taking yesterday was not heartwrenching because I simply wouldn't allow it.
Although Javier was more than a little traumatized.
McDonough is a mere two hundred miles west of Columbia, after all. We'll be traipsing over there to see her so much, she'll be sick of us.
And since I lived in the Atlanta area for several years as a teenager, I have lots of friends and family there that I now have a legitimate excuse to torment in person.
Also I now have three empty bedrooms upstairs! Somebody want to come see me?
(There are those who would say that my upstairs rooms have always been vacant, but I make it a policy to ignore my detractors. What do they know?)
I did venture up there for a few minutes after Erica left, just to look around her room.
The less said about that, the better. Suffice it to say, I didn't cry.
Much.
Happy teaching, Little Boo! And happy learning.
Reader Comments (17)
She's doing what you raised her to do and I know you are proud of her! It's still hard though and I'm proud of you for dealing so well with this!
O.K. I'm crying. My son left for school and hasn't come back. He keeps telling me he's not moving back. I'm slowly dying. Good thing I have another one. I'm giving you a virtual hug.
Mari ... thanks luv. I know you know exactly how I feel! By the way I have been thinking of and praying for your Heather.
Irene ... dear Irene! Sorry to've made you cry. I really need the virtual hug and I send it right back to you, because you need it too! It is a good thing you had an heir and a spare. I predict they'll both be hanging around for a long time to come.
I must be an unnatural mother, because I haven't cried when any of my kids left home. Not one of them! In fact, dare I say it, I have rejoiced! Pushed them out the door.
Well, I did get a bit teary when we left Bethany in Rexburg Idaho for her first semester, but only because she cried first.
Sue ... AHA! Blame it all on Bethany! I know all about that "bit teary" business! Actually, I have cried very little when my kids left home ... one by one, for college, plus one to be married ... well, I must say when the one got married, it felt for awhile like she'd died. But she hadn't, and all is well. I was more than ready for Erica to move out ... it's just that, she's been my boon companion for the last year ... kind of complicated! I'll tell you all about it when I see you.
Congratulations to Erica! That's great news. Snagging a job, a teaching job no less, when there are so many teachers looking for work, is quite a feat. And a classroom full of 5th grade boys, eh? Yeah, she's going to have more male admirers than she can fathom. Haha.
A note about Peoples Baptist Academy: Its website says the school opened in 1995, so depending on how soon their baseball team came into existence it's possible I played them in high school. They're part of the Georgia Christian Athletic Association, the same as my old school, and a peek at the opponents on their baseball schedule takes me right down memory lane: Byne, Open Bible, King's Way (who we defeated 32-1 during my senior year, btw), Shiloh Hills, etc.
I hope she loves it there.
Kev ... I knew you'd be glad for her! She's very happy. This is a ministry she's been interested in since college. Seems like a perfect fit to me. She's found a cute apartment and an old friend from college is teaching there too this year, so she's all set. I need to look up how far McDonough is from you because if I drive over there you're going to have to take me to lunch. You defeated King's Way 32-1 senior year? I know the pastor and his family very well. Haven't thought of them for years. Also I'm very familiar with Shiloh Hills. I'm a graduate of Forrest Hills Christian School, which was in Avondale Estates and then Stone Mountain, but which unfortunately doesn't exist anymore. For my daughter to be living and teaching in Georgia is a bit full-circlish for me! I'm ecstatic. Truly.
Oh how exciting!!! Plus that gives u LOTS of ROAD TRIPS!!! I'll be crying like a baby when my two leave girl!!!
Crystal, ain't it the truth? Road trips are the bomb. And you've got lots of time but just to be safe, better start stocking up on Kleenex! LOLOL *sob*
@Jenny: Forrest Hills Christian School sounds REALLY familiar to me. Did they have an athletic program? If so, I bet we played them, too.
Yep, my senior year we defeated King's Way 32-1 in only 3 innings. And we were the home team, which means our team didn't bat in the third inning. That's right, we scored 32 runs in TWO innings. This game also stood out to me because it was the only game my junior and senior seasons that I did not start. My coach wanted to give a freshman a chance to play in a game that didn't matter. Needless to say, I talked his ear off in the dugout once I saw EVERYONE was getting lots of hits. "I have GOT to get out there, coach" I told him about 47 times. After the first inning, he put me in the game. In the second inning, I got to bat TWICE. Two doubles, thank you very much. Still, I was peeved that I missed out on the entire first inning. ;-)
Well, you're in luck (or should I say trouble?). Milledgeville is a little over an hour from my neck of the woods.
Kev ... I was going to say you give up too easily (only FORTY-SEVEN TIMES YOU ASKED?) then was glad to read you finally got in the game. Better late than never! Milledgeville? That name means one thing to me: insane asylum. Better come with my force field intact or they'll never let me out once I get in. Better yet, I'll meet you at a predetermined equidistant location! We'll think of it as the player to be named later.
This is great news. She will be just far enough away to allow visits when you want them, but far enough for her to start her own life with her own friends etc.
The Christian school is a great idea. Our grandson attends Donelson Christian Academy in Nashville Tennessee. It is a fabulous place. Small classes, all Christian teachers, most of the families are all faithful Christian folks. It costs a fortune to keep him there, but it's worth it.
Debbie ... it sure is a great idea! All of our kids were educated in private Christian schools all the way through, and although there are a few drawbacks, there aren't enough to matter. And you're right: it's very costly. The school where Erica is teaching is one of the most expensive I've heard of. Good thing they have such wonderful teachers! LOL
@Jenny: Milledgeville? I have no idea why I wrote Milledgeville when I meant McDonough. I must have Milledgeville on the brain or something.
Kev, I wondered! Now I REALLY wonder ... LOLOLOL
How cool, that's not even 21 miles from my house. And if you want to avoid Atlanta when you visit, if you don't already know, take Exit 82 off I-20 and stay on GA 20 until you get there. Stop at Pipin's BBQ in Rockdale county if you want. Btw, is your husband a race fan? AMS is very close too. (winking)
My daughter is leaving home the 19th to go to Georgia State. Granted, it's only 30 miles away but she'll be living on campus, DOWNTOWN! (I never was a big city guy) I'm a little nervous about it but she's done real well so far. I don't expect that to change.
Very happy for y'all Jenny. :-)
Rcat, thanks so much for that good advice and I surely will take it ... the exit, the barbecue, all of it ... and although TG has never attended a race, he watches them on TV all the time and I know he'd love to go to one. I'd even enjoy it too if it weren't too hot outside! LOL I don't do the hot sun.
Best of luck to your dear daughter, who I'm sure will be fine and will never want to come home! Except for a home-cooked meal and for mom to do her laundry. LOL ... I shot you an email BTW!