It is 3:50am and I am awake, thinking of all the reasons that I cannot sleep until Catie is home and safe. Yes, I have heard her tell me over and over that she is all of 19 years old, a virtual old lady and quite able to navigate the world. Let's just say that last phone call home when she told me she could not wait to be home safe in our arms did me in.
I read a recent article that said "Greetings from Panama City Beach, where it's not really spring break until a crowd big enough to fill any college football stadium shows up for a free Luke Bryan concert at the Spinnaker Beach Club. " Catie was in the front row, making college memories that will surely last a lifetime. That is good. Of course, the other article was about the missing student that was never found. Every friend I spoke to seemed to know all about Panama City Beach, "the new Spring Break Place to Be". I most loved the people who told me just how wild it was. Letting go is the hardest thing a mother or grandmother will ever do. Push them out of the nest, teach them to fly on their own is great advice, but does not come without sleepless nights.
She has learned that people really do steal, not everyone tells the truth and that driving outside of Eaton Rapids is a whole new world. She experienced paying a hotel bill, learned how much it costs to eat out for a week and how expensive gas is. She grew tired of being designated driver in the crush of Panama City Beach traffic at 2am. I know she will want to go again and I also know she will spend less of her summer money on Itunes, Victoria Secret purchases and McDonalds, saving for the big week in Florida. She had to do a lot of last minute babysitting to pull this off.
A 1000 memories, lessons learned and at least that many minutes spent awake this week wondering if my little one is safe. I just got the latest text saying she is in Olivet and will be home soon. She will be eager to cuddle up with Frankie, safe in her own bed. Maybe I should wake her for church in the morning, instead of letting her sleep all day!
