My wife and our youngest daughter drove down to Nyack, New York last Friday to visit our middle daughter, Naomi at her apartment.  She is a senior at Nyack College, and we had not seen her since the Fourth of July.  Our oldest daughter, Jo, had already headed south on 95 to attend a wedding in Philadelphia.  She drove up to Nyack on Saturday, and for one glorious day we had all our girls together again.

When we arrived Friday afternoon, Naomi brought us to her apartment.  This was the first time we ever stayed at one of our daughter's homes.  In truth, up until now, the only way it could have happened is if we slept in a dorm room or a summer camp cabin.  An apartment is a new experience for Naomi, and a new experience for us as parents, too.  Her place is part of a fairly large complex in a residential area of Nyack.  It's a three bedroom that she shares with three other women, all graduate students at Nyack College.  We only met one of the roommates; the other two were away, which allowed us to all stay overnight comfortably.  The one we met, Dalicia, is a counseling student in the grad school.  She is originally from South Carolina, and she and Naomi are clearly good friends.

Because we didn't need to get a hotel room for two nights, we had a little more cash set aside.  We used some of this extra to fill up her cupboard with groceries.  She was so appreciative.  She quickly baked us some banana muffins; she was always the baker in the family.  She brought us into Harlem that night (see prior blog), and we got to bed some time after midnight.

Saturday was a pleasant, relaxing day.  After sleeping in, Naomi was thrilled to come us breakfast and make plenty of coffee.  We spent the day catching up on news; big and small.  Later in the day we went to the Mall - one of the biggest on the east coast - where we helped her stock up on other staples.  We met up with her boyfriend, Jeremiah, there and Jona-Lynn met us there when she came into town from Philly. 

Once we were all back together and back at the apartment, it was like old times, albeit in a new setting.  We laughed, watched "Once Upon a Time" and relaxed as a family.  I worry about all my girls sometimes, but I may worry about Naomi the most.  She and I are very close.  This visit reminded me of my own single days so many years ago when my cupboards were often bare, and I was navigating the tricky waters of roommates and relationships.  Those years had their highs and lows, but they were essential in getting me to where I am now.  It was good to see that this next step toward adulthood is going along as it should for Naomi.