We’ve Left Our Heart In Myrtle Beach

We had hoped this would be easier on us emotionally than it was.  And by "we" and "us," I mean ME.  Debbie's been a rock, I have been been a mess.

Yesterday, we dropped our one and only child, our son, Hogan, off at Coastal Carolina University to begin the next phase of his life:  college.

First off, I want to thank the people at Coastal for being so fantastically organized with the dorm move-in process.  It could not have gone smoother.  Because of Covid-19, it's not like the melee that was moving into the dorm for the rest of us throughout time.  Each student, and two helpers (in this case, us), had a set appointment time to move in and get out (a loose 90 minute window, I think we were there about 2 and-a-half hours).  I believe once this process is evaluated, it will be a permanent fixture of the experience.  Why go back?  This is a GREAT system (IMO).

Below is a gallery of our morning in "The Woods."  Each dorm room has a small kitchen and living room surrounded by four individual bedrooms and a common bathroom and sink area.  Before that though, is the text I composed before we started yesterday morning, but didn't send until I put the keys in the ignition to leave.  I'm glad I did it this way, because as I was hugging him goodbye, I could feel myself starting to lose it, and there's no way I could have gotten the words out verbally without causing an embarrassing incident for us both.

I guess I’ve known and secretly dreaded this day, but children are never meant to be kept. No, from the moment you arrive, the goal is to get you to the point that you look to spread your wings for yourself and fly

And I expect you to not just fly, but to soar!

I just hope that every once in a while you think about flying home to check on the old birds you’ve left in the nest

Have fun, but remember you are there to learn. So, go to class. You KNOW who I live with and neither of us wants to deal with life if you don’t and your grades dip (besides that, your scholly money depends on it).

Continue to work on your game. Your talent is unmistakable and undeniable to anyone who sees it. YOU just need to believe it. Lord knows you’ve got better access than ever before (and you’ve had it pretty good up to now <g>) to work on both your long and short game.

I know you’ve long since tired of hearing this, but be careful. You’re the only you I’ve got. Make good choices and decisions. This virus is truly no joke and the last thing anyone wants is for it all to be shut down again.

Finally, and most importantly, know how preposterously proud I am to be your father. You are my favorite person in the world, and I already miss you.

All of my love-always,

Pops

Anyway, here's move-in day...one of the best (and worst <g>) days of my life.