We pulled into Oxford around 9:15 and had to wait a bit in line for the dorm drop off, but it went very smoothly. It also went more quickly because the room was on the first floor. When we were in line, D-man spotted his roommate walking in the quad and his family was right behind us. We also learned throughout the day that he and his roommate share the same birthday and both don’t like writing, both played basketball, and while we don’t live on a golf course like they do, we are pretty darn close to one. Lots of similarities! He seems like a very nice young man and I hope that they can have a great year together in Tappan Hall.
We spent a few hours getting the dorm in order and while the layout is not great and the room smaller than others in the hall, D-man has a lot of storage space so he even was able to put his golf clubs under his bed.
We ate lunch in the cafeteria together with his roommate’s family and then D-man and his roommate went to meet some friend’s of his roommate and Marshall and I toured the south part of the campus together. We then hooked back up with D-man to get some tasks done. We dropped off some items we brought for another kid from Louisville that attends Miami and then toured the academic part of campus so D-man could show Marshall his new home (Marshall stated how much Oxford reminded him of Pullman and how he felt right at home). We spent time in the Farmer School of Business, found a couple of D-man’s classrooms, went to the library, checked out the student union and picked up his computer at the tech store on campus.
We then dropped off items at his dorm and then took the long walk to the car (which was right by the business school so he had a practice run for Monday morning). And then, we said our goodbyes. They were not long and drawn out and not as difficult as I imagined they would be given the random crying that has been happening the past two weeks. But, I feel this is going to be such a great place for him and having a nice roommate and family that is only 45-min away helps me a bit too. It was not easy for Marshall either, but we are both incredibly proud of the young man that D-man has become.
And this is what is “supposed” to happen. It’s the next phase in our life journey and a completely new phase of life for our son (and for us). And as I write this with tears streaming down my face, it is obviously still gonna take awhile to adjust to this new phase, but we will all get there. I’m extremely thankful for the relationship we have developed with D-man that makes this so hard. As I told T-man when he was saying goodbye to D-man, we are sad because what we have is so special. We are only privileged enough to have these feelings because of the joy we have had in our past. It is the price we pay for this journey called life. And I’m thankful for that.
Departing from Richmond with all the stuff
Waiting in line to get to the drop off of Tappan Hall
Decorating the dorm
The roommates
His decor
Dorm set up done!
Walking to the cafeteria - not too far from their dorm
Farmer School of Business
Checking out the balcony of the lecture hall
Home for the next year
The long walk back to the car
Off he goes. ❤️
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