And He's Off!

I'm back from taking son #1 to college. It wasn't the traumatic experience that I had expected. Aside from some drama regarding his roommate assignment (it changed three times) and the delivery of his bed (he's too big for a normal single mattress), things went pretty well. He has three suite-mates, one in the same room, two more that share an entrance and the bathroom and they are all nice fellows so far. One has a piercing and chain smokes, but he also was the one who mopped the bathroom and Lysoled the shower when he arrived, so I am reserving judgement.
We shopped until we dropped (literally) and bought the kid pretty much anything a dorm-dweller could ever wish for. He has a fridge, microwave, computer, printer, cell phone, hand- held pc, and a flat screen TV. He has a rudimentary knowledge of how to do laundry (ask a cute girl for help) and knows where the food is. (Can you say meal plan?) He has already made himself indispensable by hooking up a "girl" friend's computer.
We took him out for a "last meal" at a really nice restaurant, dropped him at the dorm and said our goodbyes. Maybe it was because he had already slept there for two nights and we'd only seen him briefly for two days, but it wasn't that hard saying goodbye. There were no tears, no regrets on my part. I am happy and excited for him. Maybe even a little jealous.
When I got home this morning, I reluctantly went up to his room. His brother still resides in there, so it is far from empty, but there is a noticeable change. His bed is bare, as is the top of his normally cluttered desk. There is a cache of empty soda cans for me to remember him by, all over the floor. Part of me knows he will be back, but things will never be exactly the same. I have sent him out to find his independence and not be so reliant on me. Now I have to let go.
It's Sunday night, there is homework to be finished, laundry to be washed, dinner to be cooked. There haven't been any tears yet, but as soon as I am alone and all is quiet, all bets are off.