Well, the big day is almost here. Tomorrow I will be moving my son, Connor, into his new digs in Flagstaff, Arizona…the dorms at Northern Arizona University – Go Lumberjacks! Tonight will be our last family dinner for quite some time. Marissa, my 21-year-old daughter, who is a senior at the University of Arizona, is home this week before she heads back to Tucson on Friday.  How did this happen? I know everyone says it but really… how and when did this happen… when did my two cute little toddlers grow into this gorgeous woman and handsome young man?!?! OK, don’t worry, although I am sitting here all melancholy – I am not crying…. yet!

Now on to a less dramatic and taxing subject – dinner! Since it is Connor’s last dinner before he leaves for college, I told him I would cook him anything his little heart desired or we’d take him out to the restaurant of his choice. He asked that it be homemade pizza night with something chocolate for dessert. He always has been the “easy” child! And on top of that, he even picked out a pre-made chocolate dessert – Yay! So Con and I went to Trader Joe’s and Safeway and purchased the makings for the pizzas and all his “pantry goods” for the dorm. The conveyer belt at Safeway was an especially funny site, for me anyway. The entire cart was full of Easy Mac, Chunky Progresso soups, Top-Ramen, cans upon cans of chili, beans, tuna, etc., and way too many packages of cookies, crackers, cereal, etc. And then at the very end of the belt, were just four items of fresh produce for the pizzas! Let’s just say that it’s usually the other way around when I shop. A few processed items and loads of produce, oh well, that’s dorm life, right?

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