From Shelby to Upland

In two days, Joy will be a college graduate. She took her last final yesterday and is pretty much just sticking around waiting for the diploma. Really, I'm proud of her. She's a pretty unbelievable student, much better than I ever was, and she still made time for fun and friends and all of that that makes college college. (Well, TU doesn't really do the drinking/partying scene, and Joy didn't either, so I guess she did not what makes college college, but that which makes Taylor Taylor.)

Tonight I get off of work at 10 and then I'm driving to Upland. It will be the last time I make this trip from Shelby to Upland, at least for quite a while. Honestly, I've hated having a long-distance relationship this year. Yeah, people say that there are benefits and all of that, which may be true, but I don't really care. I didn't like it one bit. So to make life easier all year, I would make my regular trips to Upland, it seems at least once a month. I bet this year I've driven to Upland about 15 times, three hours each way. I've become rather intimate with US-30. I know where i can spead on 75. I know I know all the exits and know all about the construction currently going on. I know where the cheapest gas is (right when I leave 30 and am about to get on 75) and know where I got pulled over. Actually, I know both of the places I got pulled over. For a long stretch, 30 is just two lanes and you're usually stuck behind some dumb truck. I know I'm getting close to it becoming four lanes again when I pass that one church with the white sign on the right. I also know that I have forty minutes left when I pass the beautiful Catholic church on my left side soon after crossing the Indiana border. I also know exactly where it was that I looked in my side-view mirror and saw my gas cover dangling from the side of the car. I know I smile every time I see the one church called "Happy Corner Church." I think more churches need names like that. Okay, probably not. It might be giving out a deceptive message. I also love the hotel that is straight from an Alfred Hitchcock movie, certainly hasn't been occupied since the last World War, but it still has that "Vacancy"sign barely visible.

I remember always being delighted on the way to Upland, and it always seems twice as long on the way back. This is my last time making this trip this year, and probably for a really long time, and probably the last time all by myself. Sad as it may be, I love Upland, so it's kinda sad that Joy is graduating and I'll no longer have a reason to visit every month. But when she walks across that stage, I also know it means we're both moving to Chicago within the week and that means this long-distance nonsense is over.

This will be a good weekend to be sure. Time with Blom and Kelmo, music practice with Loralee, hanging out with the in-laws. I'll even be spending time with Joy's brother, Matt, another Taylor grad who isn't exactly similar to me. Maybe this will be the weekend we really connect. (Doubtful, but can't a guy hope?) So yes, as I make this journey for the last time, there will be both delight and sadness, joy and sorrow. I am guessing Joy will feel those same things when she packs up her boxes at the Ritz and finishes up four years of college. At least we'll be able to talk over this feeling and emotions in person and not on the phone. Congratulations, class of 2005.

This means I graduated from high school five years ago. I haven't gotten any info about a reunion or anything and certainly won't be in attendance if there is one. I may miss my trips from Shelby to Upland, but I'm pretty sure I won't miss Shelby. Indeed, this is a good thing.