Hello, all. Thanks for your patience. I had to take a blog and writing hiatus for a few weeks, because of life. There have been many milestones for my family — a prom, an anniversary, a concert, a prom — and I had to make the milestones the priority.

I’m still not entirely done. We successfully got Ian and Steve on the bus at 5:30 am for an eighth grade class trip to DC. Tomorrow, Jonah turns 18. He started his first job busing tables at a restaurant last night. On Friday, we go back to his college to register for classes. Then I have to get Jonah some black pants and shoes for his high school graduation. There’s the graduation ceremony, a family bbq, and college orientation coming up, too.

It’s all good stuff, but getting everyone at the right place at the right time with the right clothes requires a lot of organization and lists. I’ll post pictures when I get the time to download the camera.

This morning, I’m having some panic attacks. I’m neurotic and that’s what I do. I’m desperately worried about life after these milestones. What’s going to happen when Jonah goes to college? School has structured our lives in the suburbs for thirteen years. His sporting events and school functions have filled our calendar and formed our social groups. What happens when that structure is gone?

Yes, we still have Ian here, but it’s not the same. He’s a special ed kid who goes to a public school about thirty minutes away. Special ed kids never get access to those same events, particularly when their schools are far away. He does do a lot of activities, because his brain never shuts down, and I need to keep him busy as much as I can. But his activities usually involve me waiting in a waiting room or in the parking lot. They are not social events. He’ll be in the marching band next year, so I suppose we’ll have that.

So, what will life be like in the suburbs without a typical kid to participate in community events? Will it be boring and lonely?

A number of Jonah’s friends’ families are moving a couple of days after graduation. Nobody wants to pay New Jersey taxes for a week longer than they must. One family is moving to Missouri. Another to Michigan. Once the kids are done with their education, there is no reason to stay.

We aren’t moving for a while, at least while Ian is still in school. My extended family is all here within 20 minutes of our home. Steve’s job is in the city. In fact, in the midst of all this, I’m also planning a kitchen renovation for this fall. So, I’ll suppose I’ll fill our social gaps with more work and volunteer activities. I’m sure it will be fine, but the suburbs are a weird place, and it’s hard to know whether or not we’ll still feel at home here in a few months.

Well, I’ll do some proper blogging this week. There’s the Comey testimony tomorrow. Yay! I know people who are having viewing parties at their homes. We’ll just hang out here and have fun.