‘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.