Mr Harvard Freshman

He won. Ruth Lidawer, our cousin, survived the concentration camps and moved to Miami looking like a 7 year old at age 16. Now, her grandson is Mr. Harvard Freshman. How can anyone else be excited about their college kids?

Today, as usual,I worked too long before lunch. Walking home ravenous, I vowed to eat, relax and return to work on time… no extra projects today. Once again, Emily had magically reappeared in Bellevue from Bellingham. But she was rushing to put on make up and depart for an orchestra concert in Yakima. Apple, tofu, rice, clean up…and…

“I want to go to Florida for 6 weeks this summer, study in California and work at Sea World, stay in Bellingham on week-ends, get an apartment with Lucille…” Emily blurted out rushing down the stairs thickly lashed eyes tearing up. “I don’t want to switch schools just for some guy!” “If I bring up anything that takes me away, Andy gets so upset!” “I’m not going to Bellevue College and I really like Western.”

Emily was listening to her intuition and facing some really difficult decisions. Andy seemed like he’d walk down the aisle with her any day of the week and no parent could possibly disapprove of Andy. Both Andy and Lauren badly want Emily to transfer to Univ of Washington in Seattle.

For once, when I apologized to my first patient, I wasn’t berating myself even though I was a full 5 minutes late. Those 5 were needed at home.

I dove right into anxiety week at Gwen’s office. One patient, overwhelmed by her toddler quickly aborted when she discovered a second pregnancy. Now, she worries incessantly about her 2 year old, waking up 4 times a night to give her drinks and change her diapers. Another, determined not to ruin her make up by crying, suffered from exploding tears describing the panic she suffered for weeks from the pain and bewilderment of undiagnosed reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Now, 8 years later, a swollen ankle pushed her towards an imaginary abyss. A retired engineer worries that irregular heartbeats will knock his newly replaced heart valve out of place. And a 13 year old describes the text messages she sends her friends…impotent attempts to ease her depression.

“ANSWER” says an angry text from Lauren. Finally at 5:30 PM, I call her back. “Just 2 things,” she says.” There’s a large envelope from UW here for Emily and I’m going out to dinner with Sophie.”

“O..M..G..” was Emily’s text when she heard. “Now I have some decisions to make.” During her drive home from Yakima, Emily has to choose between her wonderful suite mates, independence, and professors at Western Washington Univ. and her family and friends here at home. Also, she’s considering studying industrial engineering, only offered at Univ.of Washington. She also wants to spend 6 weeks in Florida this summer with her grandparents and cousins. I warned her NOT to mention this until she’s sure or she’ll break hearts of all ages in that state.

Lauren has decided to train for Seattle’s Rock N Roll Half Marathon in March when her book is finished and she’s trying to get it published. I guess UW permits her a little extra time on the side. Carlos is reporting from Guadalajara to her side promptly on Valentine’s Day.

Summer is wrestling in a regional girls tournament in Sedro Woolley tomorrow. If she wins her 1st and 3rd matches, she’ll qualify for State: the Mat Classic in the Tacoma Dome next week-end. Sunday, Summer and her boyfriend plan to start Valentine’s Day at 9 AM so it lasts longer. And in case she doesn't make it to state, Summer will go to Portland for a debating event. Andy says he'll wrestle in the state meet without a doubt.

I’m very happy for Ari Lidawer and his mom, Annette. I hope his grandmother feels her own incredible accomplishment in this. I, like billions of other parents, am bursting with knowledge more secret than Annette’s but just as certain: my children are the best in the universe.