Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The little dorm room...

I made it through graduation just fine, but I lost it on move-out day. Apparently I'm one of those overly sentimental people who, for whatever reason, can get all nostalgic and teary-eyed without any warning whatsoever...



For me that time came when Amanda and I went back on Monday, the day after graduation, to finish gathering the last of her belongings and to clean and vacuum her dorm room. This was her home away from home for senior year, a 3rd floor walk up in an old Victorian home, right in the Harvard Square area of Cambridge (the most perfect place for any college student to live during their first years away from home, if you ask me!)

September 2007, move in day...


Her prized possession was this cheerful yellow "ice cream parlor" chair that we picked up for $5 at a junktique store over the summer.


My love of birds has clearly been passed to the next generation (as well as my love for cottage blue!)...


The shelves, on that September day, were stacked with anticipation in the form of favorite books, DVD's, CD's, and even little pink and blue ice cream cups, promises of all the good times her senior year would bring...

To borrow a very clever 'imaginary photo insertion' technique used by Sherry from Edie Marie's Attic, this is where dorm room photos taken sometime after move-in, but before move-out, would appear (if I had the courage to show them!!), soooo, use your imagination and....

[insert images of a typical dorm room throughout the college year... add an extra dose of clutter and chaos if said child occupying the room is an art major]... 'nuff said.

Fast forward, and I do mean FAST forward, to move-out day (this year flew by)...

The sweet little room that was her home for the past nine months was once again just an empty shell, stripped clean of any personality. The echoes of laughter and good times that once permeated this room, and the hallways in general, are but a memory.



As my daughter headed down the three flights of stairs with the last load, I turned to look back at her room one last time. The excitement, the laughter, the smiles, the crowds, the cheering - the very 'busy-ness' of graduation the day before was such a stark contrast to today's events. The silence of this once energetic, exciting, buzzing dorm house was deafening. And in the quietness of that moment, the tears started...

And here I thought I'd made it through the whole graduation process without the need for tissues! I should have know better!!!

Donna

13 comments:

Michele said...

Awwww....what a sweet post! Is she moving back in with you? Her yellow chair is adorable, too!!

Michele
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com

Joanne Kennedy said...

Well I'm sure she will have many many more loud and happy memories in her new home.

Someone will move into her old room and it will once again come to life for some other student who is full of hope for the future.

Your little one is now going to spread her wings and fly. Be proud of the good job you did to raise her and know she will be ok.

Hugs,
Joanne

Michele said...

I already left a comment on here, but I forgot that you wanted us to say whether or not we wanted Prize #1 or Prize #2 if you selected our name. If I'm lucky enough to win, I'd like the By The Sea prize. Thank you!!

Michele
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Donna!
It's sometimes when we least expect it, the tears come. We know we are going to be so strong and then some wave of tenderness comes over us that is totally unexpected and impossible to stop!
My very best wishes for your daughters new beginnings!!
Hugs, Sherry

Robin said...

Yes, and at the very end of this post I had a lump in my throat too! Such a sweet story!

Jan~Feather Your Nest Antiques said...

Donna,
I picked up on your blog from Pink Icing on the Cake.I think your blog is great and I enjoyed looking at your decorating projects, the shops you have visited, and your great finds.Visit me if you can.

Jan

Adrienne said...

Oh, this Mom was there quite a few years ago and I remember the feeling. The tears dry and the memories linger and our dear sons and daughters go on to make new memories. But for now don't worry about the tears. They are part of the process! ~Adrienne~

Marilyn said...

Oh my, I'm such a softie--your post brought out the tears...such beautiful sentiments and memories of my girls' college years. Her dorm room, by the way was darling! Isn't fun to see all of the sweetness they can squeeze into a tiny space...reality check, AND the clutter, lol! Thanks for a great visit to your blog!
#1/#2

Anonymous said...

Hi Donna,
I get teary like that too, we women are just emotional, it's how GOD made us. That little yellow chair is cute.

Hugs,
LeAnn:)

julia said...

Such a sweet room - I would have moved in there immediately. I know it's somehow sad when a chapter in life ends...and I can only imagine how it feels when your little ones leave the nest to fly ;o)

Life on the Edge said...

She sure did have a special room! I love the yellow ice cream parlor chair too, and the ice cream cups! Oh, and I do love her Van Gogh "Starry Night" pillo! What a cheery dorm room!

Rue said...

Hi Donna :)

Alex will be starting his first year of college this year. I have one more baby to go, but Annie still has a few years of school before we have to go through this again. It's strange what trigers the tears, but it happens to us all sweetie :)

Congratulations on her acheivement!
hugs,
rue

P.S. #1 and #2 ;)

maggie said...

Oh I know the feeling. My two daughters graduate from university this Tues. A busy, busy week with so many memeories.