Please

Please allow me brag just a little.  No, not about anything I've done, I know, I do that all the time here.  It's about The Kid.

He hates this picture

He's an only child of "older parents", whatever that means.  He's been a joy (so far) and he and I have been fortunate to be able to do quite a few things together.  It was always my philosophy to try to enjoy the time we had.  I guess being older I realized how quickly that time would pass.  And boy, does it ever.






So Friday evening a week ago he calls down from his suite upstairs and says "hey dad, I got in!"






"Got in what?" I ask.






"Florida, I got in Florida!" he says.






I had to brace myself on the counter.  My world swam just a bit.  Kinda like the first time I held him in the hospital delivery room, I felt just a little shift.






"So now we decide if you really want to go right?"  I asked, secretly hoping he would not want to go.






"Oh I want to go!"


And so it begins.






He had applied for Summer B which starts June 30.  That's right, in just 4 months he'll be out of the house.  I am both happy and terrified at the same time.  Happy for his accomplishment, terrified that this time has gotten here so quickly.






He has wanted to attend The University of Florida since he knew anything about college.  His uncle went there and we have always rooted for their football team.  The deal was sealed when we went down to watch FSU slaughter the Gators this fall, then went on a campus tour.  He was sold. 


I guess I just never really expected him to get in.  That's not to say he hasn't worked hard.  He's the valedictorian of his class and has always been very focused on his school work.  Must get it from his Mom's side.






It won't be easy for him.  I don't think he realizes how much of a change it will be.  We have tried to prepare him as much as possible, but you remember how it was the first time you left home right?  Yea, see what I mean?






Anyhoo, it's another step in life. and it's a big one, for all of us.

Glasses

It's just a matter of time before we need them.  I'm always amazed at The Kid when he picks up something and just reads it.  I can't remember being able to do that.  Big Jim (who doesn't read this anymore) doesn't seem to need them (yet).  At his age I'm surprised.  I'm sure he has other age related issues though. 

Ummm Humm Ummm

I recently had my prescription up graded which sent me on a search for new lenses.  My company had just added vision to our plan so I figured I could save a little money by using an in network provider.  My original place wasn't "in network" so I headed to one that was, thinking they were all the same.  Not.  There was a scooter parked outside with alien stickers all over it, I must have gotten that guy as my "sales associate".  Hum, that was my first clue something was amiss.

He was nice enough as he did the used car salesman thing on me.  Complete with the phrase "wait, let me talk to my manager" before I headed out the door.  After all, I just wanted lenses put in my existing frames, not something I should have to take out a small loan to buy.  I returned to my original place and was efficiently serviced by an optometrist, plus it was $100 cheaper than Mr. Scooter.  I was told to return in 7 days to have the lenses installed "that will only take 30 minutes" I was assured.

Lunch

On the appointed day I had made arrangements to meet The Worm and Big Jim for lunch (actually I invited myself) at a rather questionable establishment in Tallahassee.  Jim asked me to deliver his bike to a local shop for him since he's just soooo busy.  I can make fun of him since he doesn't read this anymore.


Anyhoo, I took his bike by the shop and then headed over to pick up my glasses, thinking, well, "this will only take 30 minutes".

The Wait

There were 3 people waiting when I got there.  Two being "serviced" by the only two optometrists on duty, and one just standing.  I lurked around the displays.  As I passed one of the seated customers I overheard him giving a loooong detailed description of all his ailments.  Then he must have tried on 10 pairs of glasses, commenting extensively on each pair.  I began to get antsy.


This gentlemen was elderly (much older than me) so I gave him a break.  I strolled over close to the pretty lady who was complaining that "she just couldn't get used to these glasses".  She also had a stack she'd been trying on.  She'd put on a pair, walk around, bob her head up and down, make tisking sounds, and sit back down.  The first 30 minutes went by.


Just as the older gent got up to leave a large bearded man wearing a flannel shirt and blue jeans walked in.  He looked to be in his late 60's.  He approached the counter and said "I guess I'm next".  The guy who had been there before me looked at me, I looked back at him, he just shrugged.  I was going quickly past just antsy and onto pissed.


Bearded man had a deep booming voice.  He proceeded to tell how he had quite a few legal documents to read, what?  No, he wasn't a lawyer, he was a mathematician.  Then he started on his life's story.  Sweat started popping out on my forehead.


Finally, Pretty Lady got her butt out of the chair just as another optometrist arrived.  I had my glasses 10 minutes later, and it only took 2 HOURS!


I blame Jim for most of this, if I hadn't taken his bike by the shop I would have gotten to the store before most of those people.  The scary part is I'm pretty sure this is the future of health care in this country.  I better get used to it.


Oh, and I'm not going to put this on Facebook.  That's another story.