True Tales

Well, it’s that time of year again. My youngest daughter, Sat Amrit, is off to India for her last year at Miri Piri Academy. Those who know me well, know that my 5 family members pretty much live in 5 different places. My eldest SKK in North Carolina, AK in Venice Beach, SAK finishing up at MPA, my husband 5 days a week in Bakersfield, and me, well I am in L.A. So, I never thought I would suffer from “empty nest syndrome,” since I am so used to having no one else home most of the time.

Wrong! Not because SAK is leaving mind you, but because it is her last year. This time next year she’s off to college. I can’t believe she’s grown up, and so fast. I have been the mother of a minor child for over 33 years, which is 3/5 of my life, and all of my adult life. The years have whirled by and I find myself surprised at the sense of both grieving and joy I feel as all of my fledglings have grown, and the youngest one is at last about to take wing.

A few years ago, at this same time of year, I wrote the poem below. Similar scenario this year, except she’s moved up to 3 duffels and the ticket was $1600.
 

Well the shopping is finally done.
La Peer Beauty Supply - $154.37 for shampoo, crème rinse,
bath gel, lip smoothie and body oil.
Shoe Pavilion - $163.89 for two pairs of sneakers
and polishable black shoes
Walgreen’s - $54.37 for body lotion, face masque, antibacterial
wipe packets, 3 pairs flip flops (3 pairs for $12!) and
a few items missed at Office Max
Office Max - $224.86 on notebooks, pens, art supplies, scissors,
paper, pencils, erasers, organizers, blank CDs
Consulate General of India - $125 for student visa including Fed-Ex
Ross - $229 for t-shirts, jeans, cute purse
(she must have), more shoes…
Target - Over $1100 on three separate trips for thong underwear,
bikini underwear, bikini swim suits, bras, camisoles, jeans, socks,
pajamas, towels, bed linens, and a world of supplies
every teenage girl needs for 9 months.
One mother fretting over all this spending and then
thinking what the hell, I’m so in debt anyway, what’s another $2000
One father napping in the bedroom seemingly oblivious to all
the shopping, labeling, packing, organizing,
and diminishing available credit.
Ten more days until
one fifteen-year-old daughter dons her backpack, loads her two duffels,
and departs for boarding school in
Amritsar on a Lufthansa 747 (Round trip ticket, $1350).