He Has Taken Off

Nate will be arriving in Costa Rica shortly, with his backpack, a 49 lb. suitcase and surfboard bag. I took him to the airport early this morning. Its been the tradition that I take him to the airport. He's my traveler. The first time he traveled he was 14, and seriously needed some direction in his life. We sent him on a plane by himself to New Mexico, where he had to take a connecting flight to Colorado. Due to a flight delay, he missed the connection and had to stay overnight in a hotel near the airport and catch the next flight in the morning. His phone battery died in the middle of all of that, so I just had to trust that he was taken care of [not an easy task]. Everything was fine. He felt very empowered through that little blip. He was heading to Camp Kanakuk to experience this "extreme week" of hiking up into the mountain. He was there with only 6 other people (and a mountain goat who wanted to tag along). After that awesome week, he headed to Missouri for another two weeks of Athletic Camp--still Kanakuk. It was an awesome experience for him. He really connected with God during the time.

Two years later, age 16, (still climbing fool's hill) he was headed to Argentina for 5 weeks, through the organization called AFS. It was another awesome experience for him, traveling alone, being free and independent, going to a spanish speaking country this time. He traveled with other AFSers actually. He wasn't completely on his own, but it was a long trip from here to there, with a few stopping points, before meeting the family he would stay with for the five weeks, the family who became his South American Familia. He loved them and they loved him.

Today he's 18 and traveling completely on his own. Its a self-planned trip where he is staying in a surf camp hostel which he found online. He's not staying with anyone he knows and the plans are loose and open to adventure. SURF IS UP!!! He will eventually meet up with friends, because its a big vacation time of year in Dec-Jan and he knows some people who will be shooting down there. His stay will last for two months. TWO MONTHS PEOPLE!! He's very excited and knows that he's ready for this. The notebook from Argentina with pages and pages of spanish vocabulary, a surfer's guide book and other helpful guide books about Costa Rica are all he's using for planning. Of course, meeting people will be the biggest part of figuring out what adventures he will want to have while he's there. Adventurous Spirit. At least I feel better about arranging a driver to meet him at the airport to get him to his destination 3 hrs away... and... I miss him already. I don't know if he will have wifi where he will be staying. I hope so. I had little to no contact with him for the other two trips. That's hard.

Two months is a long time. I'm really feeling it. Christmastime without my boy. :-(

Maybe I should go for a visit!!!!! :-)

Bits and Pieces of My... um... Life?

The PTO Back to School BBQ on Thursday was fun. Look at those GORGEOUS PTO WOMEN!!! There are others who should be featured in this blog, but one of them stuck out her tongue when I took the photo... so, I'm sparing her from further exposure! (You can see Melanie on FB).

Anyway, it was not a particularly amazing event, but it was a very nice time to get to know some of the new teachers and staff as well as the new parents. I LOVE Bridgehampton School (ask me why), I love the PTO, and I love when there are newbies!!!

Mitch was visiting the Hamptons these past few daze, and I had to force him to go shopping for a pair of jeans. He hates shopping and I can totally empathize, but I can also be a support for the person who needs to get just get that dreaded shopping over with. He was a happy camper once the deed was done. (Anyone want to know his jean size)? heee--blackmail. We also had a really great "music session". He recorded me playing a handful of selected songs on his iPhone so he could learn and practice them at home. When Mitch is around the Hochstedlers all spend a lot if time laughing and talking and reminiscing. Between Mitch and I, we both relate on this theater level where we become really excited about new songs that could be THE NEXT SONG to win an audition in the near future. It's a little more exciting for Mitch than for me. He auditions for Broadways whereas I audition for local theater (that's where I give hours and hours of my time for NON-PAYING roles). Once he lands his big one, we'll be paying lots of money to see him perform.

Yesterday (Saturday) Jolene had her mandatory, post-arrival orientation, which was in Westchester co. That's about 3 hours away. We happen to be on the very far-east end of the "chapter". We definitely drive the farthest for these gatherings. It's ok. We knew what we had signed up for. So Jolene, Anika and I headed there in the morning and actually, I really got a lot out of it. We all separated into groups; the parents, the American siblings and the foreign "siblings". I must tell you--I definitely have THE BEST student of the group (not counting the mishap with the arm, cuz that's been a bummer). But Jolene is super great to have around. I didn't have anything to complain about like some of the others. LOL! (Btw, she said she didn't have anything to complain about us either). I found it very interesting to listen to the other parents speak of their experiences. Fascinating! I can't stop thinking about it.

Basically, I can see so clearly how every person is unique and every culture is interesting. And if you think about it, cultures vary from family to family within a community and within a country... but! I'm starting to believe that all teenagers go through this interesting and challenging phase "adolescent phase" no matter where they come from. Our world has become so much smaller and quite post-modern (or whatever it's called at this point).
We could have gone with the group to a Native American festival after the orientation, but we decided to find our way into NYC and wander around a little bit instead. We so adventurous.

Anika has been talking about getting her belly button pierced since her birthday in August. She wanted it immediately upon turning 16, but got a bad spider bite, and then mono (AGH) and the piercing was being seriously frowned upon by her father!!!! So it didn't happen. I kind of thought she has dropped it. No. She was still thinking about it. I, being the one who has a nose piercing, didn't really have a problem with a belly button piercing. It's not like she wears all these mid-drift tops, trying to show off her waist line. She's not like that. Thank God!

So....
Guess who finally got her birthday wish...

Ok, funny and ridiculously inappropriate story... we went into this tattoo and piercing place on St. Marks St in the East Village (after walking and looking and walking and looking--ayi yi yi) and it was a clean! So we went in. We got to the counter and she was picking out her choice of jewelry and I was looking in the glass counter at the line up of sample piercings... I was focused on the actually jewelry, wondering if they had a new nose ring I might like. I was struck by the interesting types of "hardware" that people use for piercings. I was pointing to one of them, asking Jolene, "I wonder where you would wear that one?!" Meanwhile, as my focal point back out a little, I realized that the samples were piercings on various... um... sex organs!!! OMG!!!! hahha ROFL!!! I am so naive sometimes.

Anyway... uhem... Anika's BELLY BUTTON piercing took all of 60 seconds and we were out of there. She is so proud of herself.

We then found an amazing restaurant that served delicious Argentinean and Spanish food. YUMMY!!!
Those were crepes. Jolene said they were really good. Anika had chicken and basil mashed potatoes.
I had empandas and datalinas. Soooooooooo good. It was a good day! I enjoyed it. Exhausting but good.

We visited a costume shop because the student council is hosting a halloween dance. The clique was talking about crashing the dance dressed in super hero costumes!!! Or maybe characters from the wizard of oz! This store had them all! Meanwhile, we count down until our glorious "The Cliques Goes to Vermont" Trip, Part 2! We can't wait!!!!

Day One... so far so good.

We went to the beach last night. Noah needed to run and I wanted to show Jolene our beautiful beaches.

It was a bit windy, but the water was warm.

Lizzy and Abi just had to make their way into the water... with their clothes on.


Here is Jennah, Jolene and Anika. They look like sisters almost.

Anika, the beauty.

Noah left Caleigh a present!

I collected it but made her take it to the garbage bin. heh heh

Enjoying God's creation!

Gotta love it when the water is warm.

What was your weekend like?

P.S. We bought a salvage car for Luke take to school and repair. It's a Mitzubishi Lancer 2009 with only 10,000 miles on it. It has front end damage so it's perfect for him to use at school and then resell--because it's gonna make a pretty penny! YESSS!