Abby is a Redhawk

August 23, 2021

Abby is a Redhawk

We moved Abby into Miami on Wednesday. It was a hard day and a good day. We are thankful that she is able to go to college, that she will get to experience all that college has to offer (though offerings are limited thanks to Covid and breathing airways will be obstructed when indoors 😨), and that she loves the Lord and looks forward to getting to fellowship with others on campus.

We were worried that we wouldn't be able to fit everything that Abby wanted to take to college in our biggest car and would have to take two cars. Fortunately, we were able to get everything, including us, in one vehicle so that was good. It would have been a pain as the streets at Oxford were FULL of traffic and bereft of many parking spots.

We took a couple of pictures before we left early in the morning. Donnie could not muster much of a smile.

Though there are several different routes to take from our house to Oxford, OH none make use of any interstates. So whenever we drive to Oxford we see pretty vistas, farms, small towns, industrial parks and one huge steel plant (AK Steel out of Middletown).

And then we arrived in Oxford

And then the long process of moving Abby in began. It wasn't that bad, actually. We waited in a line for probably no more than half an hour to unload the car. After unloading all of Abby's stuff, not in her room, but rather on the grounds of her dorm, Donnie and Abby stayed with her things while I drove around until I found a parking spot. (That was how everyone was doing it. Four cars unloaded at a time in front of the dorm but we were told to just unload on the grounds (not to take items into rooms right away) and then as soon as the car was empty, you were supposed to leave the car line so that others could unload). I was very nervous about finding a parking spot but I found one qusai legal spot not far from Abby's dorm so I took it.

Several trips from the grounds of the dorm to Abby's room later (as well as me getting harassed by the mask police a time or two...), we had everything in Abby's room. Then we unpacked Abby's things to get her room situated. Abby's roommate had already moved in (but she had gone home- she lives close by so it is easy for her to come and go) so there was no question on which side of the room Abby would get- she got the empty side :). We realized that quite a few organizational things would be ideal so Donnie started making a list of things to purchase before we left Oxford. We saw that there was a Walmart not too far away so we went there to make numerous purchases. Walmart was PACKED with people, mostly all parents and college kids. The trip was long but we got almost everything on the list. Then we headed back to Abby's room to unload purchases and finish getting Abby's room set up.

Before we went to Walmart, we ate at a nearby dining hall. Abby's dorm does not have its own dining hall but there is one very close to her dorm. Abby's meal plan comes with several "guest swipes" so we used those swipes to eat with her. Food options galore- there were many different stations including stir fry station, pasta, pizza, Mexican, salad bar, grilled meats, burgers & fries etc. The quality wasn't exceptional but the variety was :). I filled my disposable container high.

… and then went back for seconds. Had to make the most of my guest swipe :).

Back in Abby's room- after about eight hours in Oxford, it was time to say good-bye to Abby

Donnie and his OG daddy's girl- at least he has one more at home

As I am writing this Abby is likely in class (it is the first day of classes but I don't have her schedule memorized). Praying for her to make good friends, to get educated (but not indoctrinated, lol- Abby has a great political head on her shoulders- I'm confident that indoctrination techniques will fall on deaf ears), to gain new artistic and cultural experiences, and to grow closer to the Lord.

First day of kindergarten:

Abby only went to KG half a day and that was in the PM. That gave her all morning to play with Alyssa which is what she did every morning.

Donnie was still an associate at his law firm when Abby started KG which meant he worked even more than he does now as an owner. When he was an associate, he hardly ever took a day or a half a day off. But the day Abby started kindergarten, Donnie left work early to see her get on the bus (I don't remember if he went back into work but I am guessing that he did).