Homeward Bound

As I pulled into my parent's driveway, they were waiting for me and came rushing out, arms open, thrilled that their baby girl was home for winter break.  My Dad opened the trunk to grab my suitcase and upon seeing my television, area rug, radio, telephone etc., he said, "hun, you didn't have to pack up your dorm room to come home for break.  Your stuff would have been safe in your room."  My Mom started chuckling along with my Dad and they were shaking their heads at "all the extra packing and unpacking" I'd have to do.  They were laughing and in a good mood so I figured, aw, what the heck, I will lay it on them now....


All bright eyes and bushy tailed, still in the driveway turn around I blurted it out, "I was going to wait but I'm so excited, I might as well tell you now...Tracy and I withdrew from school, packed up our stuff, and at the end of holiday break, we aren't going back to school, we are going to drive cross country and experience life. How awesome does THAT sound?!?!"


30 seconds of silence followed by my Mom looking at my Dad and saying, "you deal with this" and he did. I quote, "What car do you plan to take? I own 'your' car. Who is going to pay your health insurance? I cover you now but you'll be dropped if not in school and no child of mine will go without health insurance. How will you eat? How will you pay for gas? Where will you sleep? Exactly how do you plan to pay for your fancy moisturizers, lotions and potions you so love? Who will buy your clothes? Contact lenses? Shoes? Pedicures? Sunscreen? Advil? Magazines? Doctor co-pays?"


Umm, hello, Daddy Downer.


All I said was, "Well Tracy and I heard that the first 6 rows of all crops were public domain so we just thought we would live off the land and become vegetarians or something."  I swear, I honestly said that.  Wisely, my Dad ignored that and simply kept on tailing, "Starting tomorrow, finding a new University that will take you after this holiday break will become a full time job for you." What?!?!? "But Dad, once I decided to 'withdraw' I kinda stopped going to class and like none of my grades are like, um, good, as in I barely passed anything this semester."


"Well, we all know you are a master bullshitter so you better get cracking with the admissions officers." I was starting to get pouty and angry when, as he walked into the house, still clutching my suitcase, he muttered, "I'm so disappointed.  What did I do wrong that she would think this was ok." Crap, my Dad was disappointed. He has never said that to me. Never. And worse yet, he thinks this screw up is somehow his fault.  Double crap.  I had to make this right.


The rest of the day was awkward but we got through dinner, watched some Jeopardy! and then I went out with some friends to catch up after a long semester scattered at various colleges. Finally, sleep in my old bed. Pure comfort.


But then, a rather loud knock on my door awoke me. The clock read 6 am. What the flip is that all about? Then a booming voice, my father, "CeeCee, time to get up.  THe work day has begun and you've got a busy day ahead of you." HOLY CRAP. Dad meant business when he said finding a school was going to be a full time job for me.


I poked my head out and he said, take a shower, get dressed - in a suit, the one you wore when you interviewed with Dean of Universities last year is still in your closet. Coffee and breakfast at 6:30." I showered, dressed and ragged myself to the kitchen.  He had the desk where my Mom usually wrote the household bills out, set up for me with the computer, stapler, legal pad, an appointment calendar, pens, the college book I used when originally looking for a school, along with various odds and ends."  We ate breakfast and he left for work.  He would call and check on me, came home during my hour lunch break and cracked the whip until 5 pm.


Let me tell you, my number one mission was to find a freaking school, fast.  My winter break was disappearing before my eyes.  I started calling area Universities. Thank God that NJ is full of good schools, close by.  I would book appointments, meet with admissions' staff, tell my story of woe, and lay upon my sword and tell them that I had screwed up, disappointed the man I admire most and that if only their school would look past my crappy first semester grades and at my high school record, they would know that I was a good candidate for their University and I would dig myself out of this hole.  By the end of the week, I had 7 universities offering me positions in their winter semester.


Over dinner, Mom, Dad, and I would discuss what school was best suited for me and we decided upon the Madison campus of:

My Mom and Dad were pleased. I was thrilled and determined to regain their trust in me. I got my winter break back. At every opportunity, I traveled far and wide, still do.  I never did make the drive cross country but everyone needs a dream and that one isn't dead.


My plan had always been to transfer out of there to another school but something amazing happened at FDU, I found that when I got to choose the courses that interested me, I liked school after all. By the time I graduated, I was sad to leave school behind and would eventually return (much to the shock of my parents) to grad school.


ps.  While all of this was going on, I thought for sure, my best friend Tracy would be mad that I was bailing on our plan. Turns out, she was in the same host I was and found a different school and went to graduate, with honors, as a nurse.  Beauty school drop outs made good after all.