Just back from St. Louis. I had only been there once before, but that doesn’t count since we drove straight from the airport to Effingham, Illinois. I was on a business trip for ‘TEEN Magazine in another lifetime (translation: 1982), and the printer was in the wild and crazy town of Effingham. Anyway, downtown St. Louis is quite nice, but due to the Cubs-Cardinals series and the Fourth of July weekend, it was double the Americana and double the crowds. However, on July 5, we watched round two of fireworks underneath the famous Arch, and it was magnificent! It almost made me forget the purpose of this visit to the Show Me State: to take # 2 son to sleep-away camp for a month.

Honestly, depending upon when you ask me, I could be elated, a little blue or slightly shell-shocked. After all, this is like dress rehearsal for the empty nest days. Four weeks without a single offspring under my roof. How weird is that??? After 23 years of motherhood, a month-long break is practically incomprehensible. Of course, it’s not a complete break. Mothers are never completely off duty; concern can’t be shut off like a faucet. If only!

So, what to do, what to do? Dig out all gift certificates. Get together with friends without watching the clock. Catch up on all writing assignments. Possibly get ahead on writing assignments, and write two columns and maybe even a feature or two. Increase work out time. Okay maybe I’m pushing it, but I think I’ll make a list and then prioritize. Or, maybe I’ll give up my compulsive list- making ways this month! Think outside the list, so to speak.

Update: My daughter just called. She’ll be in town to work tonight and doesn’t want to drive back to Murfreesboro because she has a dentist appointment in Grassland tomorrow. She’s sleeping home tonight.