I don't remember if I posted about this in the last year, but last August, BabyVoice went off to her freshman year in college.  CovidCollege, so only one kid in each dorm room, virtual classes, no social gatherings, socially distanced marching band practices and performances were only on YouTube.  Her school gave the kids the option to go home at Thanksgiving and remain remote, cancelling the dorm contracts if that decision was made.  

BV asked us what we would think about her coming home and staying home.  I told her that if she was going to be confined to a small dorm room, better that she come home and be in her own big bedroom and blah blah blah, so that is what she did.  DH and I went and picked her up, brought her home and put all her dorm stuff in storage.   She finished the school year, started working at her old job, hanging out with her friends who had also come home, and generally blossomed into a really sweet and responsible young woman.

Next Friday, dorm move in round two starts.  Her university has mandated vaccines (she is fully vaxed) and so we are hopeful that this time, she will have the actual dorm/away from home experience.  We will get the stuff out of storage, pack up the Jeep and her car and head off to school.  Again.  

It has been a long time coming, but I think the nest will remain empty.  While I am looking forward to that, I have to admit, I am going to miss her.  After the journey we have had, I never thought I would say that, but there it is.

There is hope, afterall...