I drove to the middle of the state Saturday to take my son some of his furniture. He's moving in with his girlfriend this summer and I wanted a chance to get to know her since we've only met briefly once. She's a sweet young woman and seems to bring out the best in my son - he was thoughtful, attentive and relaxed.
Both claimed ignorance of the neighboring city so I picked out a restaurant located in a former pet shop. In spite of billing itself as a coffee shop, they also served delicious, locally-sourced dinners. I had pan-seared red trout in a pinto bean sauce with fried baby kale and parmesan, and a glass of pinot grigio.
The bathroom was marked only with this sign! We walked a little around the city afterwards, enjoying the warm night.
In the morning, after my son's girlfriend had left for work, I walked around the campus to give my son time to wake up, then took him out for breakfast. He entertained me with a deadpan imitation of fielding the questions of clueless fellow students at the lab where he has a work study job. He has matured tremendously in the past year and I am intrigued to watch the man he is becoming.
And then it was time to head back through farmlands to make the 3 1/2 hour trek home.
It's very pretty there. I could eat your meal right now. What is your son studying?
ReplyDeleteBiology, I believe his major is. To get into optometry school.
DeleteOh man......that is a long drive! And a bummer about him so far away all summer. Is your younger son going to the same college or somewhere else?
ReplyDeleteMy younger son will be closer to home, but still live in the dorms.
Delete" In spite of billing itself as a coffee shop, they also served delicious, locally-sourced dinners. "
ReplyDeleteYes, we have so many little out-of-way coffee shops and diners here in the city, and like you, they serve some of THE best dinners. And btw, that meal you order looked so delicious. I adore anything with pinto beans in it.
LOVE that sign for the bathroom!!!!!
"She's a sweet young woman and seems to bring out the best in my son - he was thoughtful, attentive and relaxed."
That's awesome!
That final shot you took of the barn with the horse is just stunning.
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Thanks! And don't you love finding unexpectedly good restaurants like that? My son said, "Good call, Mom."
DeleteThat kale looked like bugs when I first glanced at the picture. Shows how unhealthy I am, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteEw! But I promise it was far better than I imagine bugs to be.
DeleteAdult children are wonderful. I love to be able to see them as people, good people, hopefully! One of the things that I have always thought about is photographing interesting old barns. I love that one!.
ReplyDeleteI love old barns - even the really decrepit ones.
DeleteI just adore the last pic and it is wonderful when our children become people isn't it. The best conversations!
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
Yes - I never imagined I'd enjoy their early adulthood this much.
DeleteWatching your sons become adults is sweet, exciting and frightening all at the same time. It sounds like you have done a marvelous job and he has chosen a partner well suited to him. Yay!
ReplyDeleteThat trout looks so good! Got a kick out of the sign too. I love places like that.
Your photos of your countryside makes me want to take a long road trip there to experience it.
I really like her, so I'm happy about that relationship.
DeleteThe South has it's problems but a lack of natural beauty isn't one of them.
Glad you had a good time with him. I couldn't do without my every 3 months 'fix' of my adult kids and the grandkids. I'm also pleased that my two daughters are close and talk most days.
ReplyDeleteI saw him a couple of months ago, but it's still not as often as I'd like.
Deleteso cool to see the man he is becoming...and getting to spend time with him and g-friend...so did she pass the mom test? dinner sounds marvelous....
ReplyDeleteOh, she definitely did!
Deletesounds like it was a pleasant enough visit and certainly it's always gratifying to see signs of healthy adulthood setting in. :)
ReplyDeleteGratifying and a bit of a relief.
DeleteVery nice to have a strong relationship with your son. No reason to jump the gun on the girlfriend but I'm wondering if you think your relationship with her will build.
ReplyDeleteOh that's one odd restroom sign. I guess the former dogs knew what to do with it.
Who knows? They've been together since the beginning of January but that's early yet.
DeleteThe sign would confuse me on the door of the bathroom; hopefully it had a good study lock? What s nice idea to get to know your son's girlfriend better! The food looked delicious! Three and a half hours trek is a long one, I'm sure longer when the weather is iffy like in the winter months. Glad you did get to spend the time that you did with both of them, but I'm sure you enjoyed the one on one time with him over breakfast. \
ReplyDeletebetty
We all looked around and then went, "Oh! THERE'S the bathroom!"
DeleteAnd I did enjoy the breakfast, too - I was able to ask aout how things were going.
Good that you like your son's girlfriend. When a mother gets a violent aversion to a new girlfriend, then there's real trouble brewing!
ReplyDeleteSo what's that tall tower thing? It looks like some kind of silo.
That would be some kind of silo. ;)
DeleteGlad you and your son had that time together. And, I am sure he appreciates how you can find the best places to eat--no matter where you are.
ReplyDeleteHe was pretty pleased with it, and both my boys are always happy to be taken out to eat!
DeleteYour meal looks delicious. So glad you got to spend time with them and get to know her better. I loved raising my children but I really enjoy them as adults. It's a beautiful thing......
ReplyDeleteIt truly is a beautiful thing?
DeleteSounds like fun.
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