Yes, there was one more teen party last night. Yes, I heard it. No, I wasn’t annoyed; I managed to sleep five hours anyway, and that’s good enough for the day’s mission: cake.
Coffee
I’ve been under the weather for a number of days, and I had plans to meet a friend for coffee last week. It turns out she wasn’t feeling well either, but we threw caution to the wind and got together all the same.
While catching up, she reminded me that her daughter leaves for college this week. As is our tradition – that calls for food!
So tonight, there is a small gathering, and teens who have been friends since birth – her daughter and my sons – will party one more time, as yet another flies the nest.
Fried chicken and cake
My friend is an exceptional cook. And I mean exceptional. On the menu tonight – one of the kids’ favorites – her southern fried chicken. As for my contribution – my go-to goodie, cake.
It won’t be fancy (that’s the way we like it), but it should be delicious. Her chicken, my cake, and watching the kids gobble every bit they can. My morning was spent fussing over which ingredients I had in the pantry, and a choice between chocolate cake or spice cake. And by the way – the not-so-secret secret to a great chocolate cake? Coffee – and strong. The not-so-secret secret to a great spice cake? Orange juice.
Let them eat cake
Why am I rambling about cake? Oh, you know it isn’t really about that. It’s about traditions, and sharing, and the one friend who stuck around in my life, despite a very disruptive decade.
It’s about kids growing up, and parents getting misty, as we watch while best friends – our kids – do what they’ve always done together – laugh, tease, play, fight, eat, and laugh some more.
Letting them fly
I’m scattered today. My mind is elsewhere. On my 18-year old who will leave soon, heading back to college. On my 17-year old and these next crucial months as a senior in high school. On this wonderful girl I’ve loved all her life. On feeling my age, because I do, and celebrating the youth and optimism of kids about to take their turn. Letting them fly – because it’s time.
It sounds like you’ll all sleep well tonight.
Hope so!
I grew up with a circle of friends, with parents who changed all of the diapers. There is a strength in that kind of bond. However long we are apart, we know each other. And we celebrate too. As often as possible.
BLW, hope you feel better. At least you could take some comfort in cake, coffee, and conversation.
I, too, am getting ready to send at least one back to college this coming weekend. We will celebrate with food but most likely mid-week as my mom is in town from California so we want to include her. Also, he has tickets to a blues fest on Saturday and I am running a half marathon on Sunday so no night before leaving food fests.
My niece is off to university in ten days, we shopped for her computer yesterday, my son is starting university again next month, my best friend in London her son has just finished university, my daughter has two years to go before she starts.
All new beginnings for each, it reminds of when I was about to start university and the excitement and I can still feel the feeling…… good luck to all on their ventures.
My niece is off to university in ten days, we shopped for her computer yesterday, my son is starting university again next month, my best friend in London her son has just finished university, my daughter has two years to go before she starts.
All new beginnings for each, it reminds of when I was about to start university and the excitement and I can still feel the feeling…… good luck to all on their ventures.
Cake makes everything better. For me the more frosting, the better the buzz. And when saying goodbye to our kids, and resisting the urge to clip the wings, I need frosting. This is such an exciting time for our kids. And I for one have decided to look at the coffee cup half full instead of half empty as long as there is plenty of frosting.
Yes, everything is better with cake!
Big night – big year. I like the warm sense of sisterhood you convey when talking about your longtime friend. It’s good for a Monday morning break! Now, if only I had some of that cake…
It turned out there were some others invited to the evening. (That’s another post. Oh, for the strangeness after so many years of still being odd woman out as the “divorcee” at the table!)
But the food and conversation were both FABULOUS. The kids were adorable. And everyone ate cake!
Traditions, aging, and friends are worthy of reflection. As I see my kids play and interact with each other in more mature manners, I am reminded of what is to come. As they–and I–grow older, we learn, grow, and appreciate what has been. It is even better to share these experiences with some of my closest friends, especially since many of them have kids of similar ages. We laugh and cry over figurative spilled milk, but mostly we listen and chat about what the future holds.
This is great. What a wonderful way to celebrate (although it sounds like it didn’t go *quite* how you would have liked)!
My kids are growing up and reaching their own milestones. With one starting kindergarten and the other starting junior high (both French schools, I might add!), I wonder where the years went and feel like it will be no time that they’ll be grown and ready to fly the coop themselves!
I hope you’re feeling better. Maybe the cake helped. So did you choose chocolate or spice?!
Ha! I made spice cake. My elder son’s favorite. (And when he came back into town a few weeks ago, I greeted him with chocolate cake, and his brother’s return a week ago received lemon cake. Spice was in order!)
It is hard to explain to any non-parent how raising children moves simultaneously at the speed of light, and like sludge. But other parents seem to get it.
I am feeling better, thank you. And while the evening wasn’t exactly what I anticipated, it was still totally enjoyable. Lots of laughter, kids being kids, and all the parents a little misty.
My daughter heads off to college this week, and I definitely feel a change coming over me. No cake in my future, but I’m feeling all excited for her new adventure, and for the potential changes that will come my way. http://dadshouseblog.com/2010/08/16/my-daughters-off-to-college-and-i-need-a-live-in-girlfriend/
Yes! Coffee in cake! I also add a little espresso powder to my cookies, it makes all the difference.
Absolutely, Eva! And Espresso or French roast is also the secret to my WORLD FAMOUS (cough, choke) French Twist Mini Pecan Pies!
I love cake, but they can keep the frosting. As for traditions and kids leaving the coop – I feel it creeping up on me. I feel it more with my youngest who is 6 rather than my 15-year-old. I wonder why that is.
Hi Cathy – nice to have you here. You’re a non-frosting woman? (Oh dear. Shall I admit that I can still eat frosting all on its own? Nah. I didn’t just say that.) You raise a great question. Why it’s harder to imagine some of our kids flying the nest rather than others. I wonder if it has to do with our view of their independence (worry), or how much we need their presence to feel like ourselves. I don’t know. But each time my elder leaves, I bawl like a baby after. It’s as wrenching as the first time.
My daughter is beginning her senior year, too and I’ve felt so melancholy. Maybe that’s just what I need…cake! Thanks for the inspiration! (And I hope, by now, you’ve been able to catch up on your sleep!)
Yup. We are definitely going to need a virtureal cake party. Martinis optional.
Um, excuse me, but where’s the recipe for the cake. I’m going to need that after my daughter leaves for college — 10 hours away. She’s never been away from home for more than 10 days. Gulp! But she’s all weepy about going away so I have to pretend to be strong about it. It’ll be a long car ride home for me.
Good one, Paulita!
I guess you’ll need to be hitting the cake soon – before and after that 10-hour drive. (She must be looking forward to college as well though, no? And I’m sure you’ve told her that first semester freshman year anywhere is hard for everyone, right?)
So I’m thinking we’ll need this massive virtual group-hug-cake-fest in a couple of weeks, for all the empty nesters and partial empty nesters. A giant blogging-bawling-mother-meetup?
I read this on my blackberry over the weekend and just wanted to chime in and say this post warmed my heart. So much love; so much hope.
I like cake but really good fried chicken is even harder to find!
Check this combo out: http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/red-velvet-cake-fried-chicken-debuts-in-san-francisco/19595457
Red velvet cake fried chicken, not sure how it tastes but looks great!
Ah Jason – nice to hear from you! Red velvet cake. HEAVEN. (Fried chicken? I know just the person – obviously!)