And then there were four (adults) and a college visit (of sorts)
Oh my stars, Abby is 18 years old. We had a pact, she and I did when she was a baby. She was going to stay little forever. Well, I guess that's kind of macabre since really, the only way one stays little forever is if one dies really young. She went and grew up on us but that is, of course, what we want as parents.
Abby is a senior in high school. She is old for her grade, turning 18 in the fall. Her birthday falls five days after the cut off for starting school so the only students older than she is are ones born five days ahead of her or ones who made the cut off but parents didn't decide to send to school when they could have been sent. It's hard to believe she was thisclose to being able to be at college right now. Especially because of how abnormal the college experience is for students right now, I'm glad she's a senior in high school and not a freshman in college. I'm grateful we have another ten months with her before college will start for her (her going to college is assuming that Covid and its accompanying restrictions, lock downs, intense fear of by some, are not impacting lives like they are now).
We had a birthday celebration for her a few days after her birthday. I think she enjoyed it. Abby had nothing on her birthday wish list. Like for real nothing. She has been wanting a new Bible but she wasn't sure which one she wanted. She's going to keep looking online and hopefully she´ll find one and we can get it for her for Christmas. Abby didn´t ask for it- but we decided to get her a new phone. Hers is an old one- iphone 6S. We waited for the iphone 12 to come out a few days ago whereupon we ordered her an iphone11 since the price dropped for the 11 the same day the 12 came out. She is excited for her new phone and I'm glad we found something nice to get her even though she didn't get it on her birthday (we told her on her birthday that she was getting a new phone).
Speaking of college and maybe going, maybe not going, we sort of kind of went on a college tour. It couldn't be an official tour because the college we went to, Miami of Ohio, is not doing in person college tours. (I assumed that all Ohio public colleges were only doing virtual tours but a friend told me that they've been to two in person college tours recently). As of now, Abby is only considering Miami but she may change her mind and explore other options. Abby's torpor regarding college stems from her ultimate career goal which does not require a college degree. She has an entertainment career goal but if Covid has taught us anything, it's that certain industries, including the entertainment industry, are subject to the capricious notions of government officials regarding public health and can be shut down with impunity. Therefore, it's important to have a college degree in something where she can get an "essential" type job. Ergo, college.
If matriculation is something Abby is going to do, begrudgingly or no, Miami of Ohio seems like a pretty good place to do so. We drove to Oxford, Ohio where Miami is located last Saturday. The day was imbued with fall perfection- a near perfect temperature, a warm, not cool breeze that sent colorful leaves fluttering to the ground and a campus so filled with charm, I was ready to matriculate there (or rematriculate as it were...).
The drive to Oxford was done on back roads and as such, we got to see some pretty Ohio countryside (it wasn't the end all be all drive as we were stuck behind slow moving vehicles which we couldn't pass).
Right before we came to the main part of campus, we saw the equestrian center that's part of MU.
I started taking pictures of the campus before we got out of the car 😆
We started our walking tour near where we parked which was near the business which is where Abby is thinking of applying. But she's not 100% sure (pictorial evidence of not being 100% sure shown below)
Next are just random pictures of pretty buildings and scenery.
We were given free masks. The only buildings we went into were the student union and one of the bookstores.
Even the police station is picturesque in Oxford. It's hard to see police stations without thinking sadly of how political "the police" is as an institution in today's zeitgeist. One positive thing is that I don't see any type of CHAZ-esque happenings near us but you never know.
This sign is hard to read but mentions that Miami University is a "public Ivy" school. Don't know exactly what that means but it's impressive sounding!
We walked around quite a bit including leaving campus to go to a street with lots of restaurants and businesses. College kids were out and about, laughing together, eating/ drinking outside in restaurants' outside dining areas. There was a strong sense of bonhomie and that gave me good hope for Abby's future if she decides to go to Miami. We enjoyed our self guided tour of Oxford, Ohio and Miami University.
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