‘Piles’ of understanding
KAREN WIGHT
They’re back. Is it happening in your house? The long-awaited return
of the collegiate sons and daughters -- and every shred of clothing,
bedding, reading material and accumulated possessions that only a
year at college can provide. Annie’s piles have blanketed our
kitchen, family room and dining room. It’s hard to believe all of
these possessions fit into one tiny, shared dorm room. The
fish-and-loaves theory is alive and well at the Wight house.
A few things I recognize from the initial move-in last August;
many more, I do not. I don’t recognize the long-haired orange “fur”
pillow. Thankfully, I can’t recognize the substance that has matted
the fur down flat. I barely recognize the throw rug she used to cover
the dorm carpet -- now I know why the dorm carpet needs to be dark
with a Teflon finish. I threw the rug away; it was beyond help. The
bedding returned in a large, black trash bag. That was prophetic.
Actually, most of the loot arrived in black trash bags. To the best
of my knowledge, there is no flora or fauna hiding inside, but I’m
not going to bet on it.
There is a suitcase full of clothes I’ve never seen before, proof
of shopping therapy at the Gap and Urban Outfitters. There is an
inordinate amount of apparel with California insignias and more
flip-flops than most stores carry. A stack of books that will never
be opened again (hopefully they were opened at least once during the
school year) came in along with boxes of hot chocolate, microwave
popcorn and granola bars.
I had briefly forgotten about the frenetic pace that her cellphone
rings, text messages beep and friends stop by. For nine months I’ve
been able to find the keys to my car, keep gas in the tank and find a
Diet Coke in the fridge.
Just about the time we all found a new rhythm, the percussion
section found its way back into the house, at least for the summer.
Is that bad? Nah, it just keeps us on our toes. And it reminds me
that when we’re together, it’s good. And even when we’re not
together, it’s still good.
So, what’s going to happen to the trash bags and their precious
contents? I predict a lot of laundry in Annie’s future, then some
packing and some storage chores. The rest of the items will gradually
re-assimilate themselves into the day-to-day routine. Of course, I
have a feeling I will be looking at some piles for a while before
that happens. And just about the time life gets organized, it will be
time to pack it up and do it again.
The piles: endemic in student life, in our daughter’s ebb and flow
and an indicator of transition. Just a physical reminder that kids
come and go, they get cleaned up and go again. The house is a wreck,
the laundry is daunting, and the fridge is empty ... I wouldn’t have
it any other way.
* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs
Thursdays.
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