It’s three in the morning and I’m looking for photos for a social media post about Elisa’s heading off to college. The easiest ones to pick are Elisa in elementary school; there are so many great choices. The hardest one to pick is a recent one with me in it. I feel they all make me look old or fat or both. I settle on one from Elisa’s high school graduation. I actually look good in it. I include it on the Facebook and Weixin posts. Shortly afterward, both Elisa and Lydia inform me the image was created by AI. It’s also the cover photo for this post.
I did the post at three in the morning because I saw off Yang, Aidan, and Elisa for their 2:50am flight. Despite my dreary eyes, I wanted to post in the moment, to capture the feeling. I mistakenly captured the AI photo. I still think it looks good.
For the ride to the airport, we somehow loaded three large luggages and three carryons in the trunk and backseat. Aidan and Elisa squeezing in the back seat. Apple maps said it would be a 20 minute drive along the airport expressway. It turned out to actually take an hour as the four lanes of the expressway were closed for renovations and we had to drive single file on the shoulder. Elisa asks me when I started listening to Noah Kahan. We made plans to simo-watch the last episode of Silo together. After a long queue to check-in (hint: do not pack a lithium battery or anything containing a lithium battery into your check-in luggage) they were in a rush to get to the gate. We took the obligatory airport send off photo and I said to Aidan to watch over Yang and Elisa for he is the oldest son. And then they were off.
The day after Elisa headed off, Amanda started preschool, also known as parent liberation day. I was looking forward to getting my mornings back, spending time exploring the city, and less playground time. Sure sounds selfish as I write this. What I didn’t expect is the extended preschool ramp up time. Two hour sessions w/parent the first week with half days the second week. So the third week will be liberation week. For full days they will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For the kids.
Of course I reflect on having three kids in college and one starting preschool. This was not the plan. There was no plan unless you believe in a higher power who doesn’t plan well.