It’s back-to-school time and my first grandbaby, Evelyn, just left for college.
Evelyn (Evy) is part of the Covid generation. She was 13 when the public was made aware of the virus and the world shut down. Remember yourself at 13, the year you became an official teenager? It was a big deal. For her, it was a year of isolation and fear. In her teenage mind, she worried, “what if I contract the virus, contaminate the family, and someone dies?” This burdensome thought was real for many people.
Thinking back, your teenage years are the beginning of your social life and where you develop your social skills. Evy was ready for this rite of passage. She was the lead in the church play, sang in choir, and on youth Sunday she even orated from the lectern. But just as Covid changed the world, it changed Evy.
We watched as Evelyn’s personality grayed. She retreated to her room; school was done online, friends were made online, and isolation became her daily companion. For her brother, who was only 9 years old, it was different; he didn’t care. He was still a momma and daddy’s boy who was happy to be home with the family watching the Disney channel.
Off to College
Like turning 13, going off to college is a big deal. This summer, Evy began to prepare herself for the challenge and independence. She drove herself to places she had never been before, applied for a job on campus, made herself meals, and called her mother every day and every step of the way for advice. At the office, we laughed at Evy’s questions and began to look forward to Evy’s daily call to her mother for advice. Below is a list of some of her questions.
- Evy had been following the garbage truck, for God only knows how long, when she called her mom and asked, “Can I drive around this dump truck?”
- While going to visit her uncle, she saw someone had parked in her usual spot in front of his house, she called her mom, “Can I park in front of the neighbor’s house?”
- While washing her clothes, she called her mom to say the lint trap was full. Her mom said, “Then take it out.” She replied, “It comes out?!”
- Having only used an electric can opener, she called mom and asked how to use a handheld one.
- When she broke a dish in her dorm room, she called her mom wondering if the glass particles were going to contaminate the air and poison her.
- And my favorite, while filling out her job application, she called her mom and asked, “Am I an alien?”
What You Don’t Know You Know
While she may be fearful and learning, I look at her with proud grandma eyes, and think what a fruitful future. Bless her little naive heart. God luv her.
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