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When my parents shipped me off to the West Point Prep School, my packing list was as follows:

1. undergarments
2. toiletries
3. envelopes and stamps

Yes, that was it. Everything else I needed was issued to me on the first day.

Whenever life in the Army was difficult for our family, I always quoted this Army truism, “If the Army wanted you to have a family, they would have issued you one.” It was fairly accurate throughout the years.

This weekend, we are sending Josiah off to college. The university is issuing him the following items:

1. bed
2. dresser
3. desk
4. fridge
5. microwave

The following is his packing list. If it seems excessive, blame his “prepare for all contingencies” mother.

1. laptop computer, kindle
2. T.V., Wii
3. surge protectors, ethernet cable
4. backpack, rolling bag
5. mattress protector, mattress pad, sheets, pillow with case
6. blankets, comforter
7. towels (bath, hand, beach), wash cloth
8. laundry baskets, drying rack
9. detergent, dryer sheets, dish soap
10. desk lamp with light bulbs
11. desk fan, lap desk
12. hand vacuum (this old thing has been in the basement for 20+ years)
13. dust pan with attached broom
14. umbrella, rain jacket
15. plate, bowl, mug, fork, spoon, knife, clothespins
16. stapler, three hole punch, scissors
17. case-it, binders, folders, notebooks
18. paper, note cards, post its
19. pens, pencils, sharpies, erasers
20. envelopes, stamps
21. tape, rubber bands, paper clips, batteries
22. advil, tylenol, nyquil, claritan, bandaids, neosporin
23. soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste
24. comb, razor (he has no plan to use the razor, but a mom can hope)
25. bucket, plunger, toilet brush
26. toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, garbage bags
27. clorox wipes, windex, plastic gloves, sponges
28. shower caddy, shower shoes, bath mat
29. over the door hangers, command strips, closet hangers
30. jeans, t-shirts, hoodie
31. shorts, khakis, polos
32. dress pant, shirt, tie, jacket (He has to wear these for a ceremony at the end of the first week.)
33. athletic gear, underwear, pajamas
34. vans, running shoes, dress shoes, sandals
35. popcorn, cereal, oatmeal, crackers, fruit cups, applesauce, cookies, candy

There it is in all its glory: the Manry college packing list for men. Next year, I will create the Manry college packing list for women. I am quite certain, with Abby involved, it will be much longer. It will most definitely include not just one, but two sets of sheets. Josiah received only one set of sheets. Men don’t wash their sheets. A second set of sheets would sit in the dresser drawer.

I learned this information from Dale when I went to see him in Korea where he lived without me for a year. Six months into the assignment, I went to visit him. His bed had brand new sheets on it, bought from the PX that morning. The set I sent him with had been pulled off the bed after six months, just prior to my arrival.

Feel free to let me know of any item I’ve overlooked. We have two days until departure.

I have had a few friends mention the competitiveness of the Manry Clan in games, events, and life in general.

Comments such as:

“Well the Manrys cannot be on the same team.”

“We are so beating the Manrys in Ted’s fun and games.” (How did that work out for you?)

“You all are ruthless.”

I admit endless races to the door to be first, shouts of shotgun while approaching the van, and singing “I am the champion of the world” after winning a board game may confirm other people’s opinions.

However, there are times when being competitive in all levels of life might be a bit much.

Gabe and his buddy were in a competition to see who could grow their hair the longest over summer break. (During the school year, they have hair regulations.) On skype, his buddy would show how long his bangs were and tease Gabe that he was beating him. The buddy’s hair is stick straight. Gabe’s hair is closer to the style of a mad scientist.

To win, Gabe was willing to pull out all stops. He had Abby flat iron his hair. Gabe was appalled to have hair clips used during the hour long process, but you know us Manrys.

We’ll go to any length to win.

Oh those New Years resolutions, they sound like such good and lofty ideas in January and such “Really, do I have to?” commitments in July.

I make fun of Dale and his New Years resolutions every year, and each year declare myself resolution free. However, I read some book somewhere claiming goals written down were more likely accomplished than “someday I will” thoughts.

At the beginning of the year I wrote down 5 personal goals.

1. Read the chronological bible in one year.

(I am currently reading Job and am a few weeks ahead of the yearly schedule, but days behind Dale who keeps reading more than the assignment. Gabe, listening to me harangue Dale about reading more than me commented, “So, now it’s a crime to read the bible?” Thirteen year old boys: Aren’t they wonderful?)

2. Use smaller dishes.

(This is a health oriented goal to eat less. It is a good goal. I’ve made miniscule progress.)

3. Walk every day.

(This second health oriented goal has only been accomplished if I could reword it as “walk around the garden every day.”)

4. Write.

(The 8 people who read this blog know quite certainly that this goal has been missed more than hit.)

5. Organize all parts of the house.

This goal I am making progress on. I took my friend’s advice of “Do the worst, first” at the beginning of the year. I organized my photos (this task had been sitting unaccomplished for  9 years) which motivated me to make, with the help of my siblings, a 50th wedding anniversary book for my parents and helped Abby create Josiah’s grad party slide show.

Next, I organized the dreaded office paperwork which allows me to tell Dale “I probably shredded it” whenever he asks me for information he needs.

Third, for Dale’s father’s day present, I cleaned out the garage. When Dale came home from work that day, he came inside and asked, “Am I allowed to pull my car in there?”

Fourth was the “clear out the basement” task. I did this task last week. It was not fun for me or my children. Character camp: I can never escape.

Josiah sorted, stacked, and discarded camping gear, luggage, and boxes. Abby sorted, counted, and discarded games, puzzles, and gift wrap. Gabe sorted, stacked, and kept all tools and miscellaneous electronics. In his room, Gabe now displays a 13 year old handspring visor, a 16 year old laptop computer, and a giant cell phone with a retractable antenna. Zeke dumped out the dress up box, looked at the various costumes, and put them all back in. (Zeke’s siblings complain that because he is the baby of the family he never has to do any hard jobs. Seriously, I don’t know what they are talking about.)

I sorted the clothes, knickknacks, dishware, and toys for donation. I hauled off the carpet remnants to the dump. I organized, stacked, and swept.

Some may think I was the supervisor for this event, but in our house, someone else oversees the work and makes sure it is completed to an acceptable standard.

Some things in my garden predate my arrival six years ago and continue to plug along in spite of me chopping them up and spreading them about to fill in more spots (hosta, lilies, and sedum). Gifts from Mountaineer Mary are always healthy and quickly multiply (hibiscus, daisies, false sunflower, and canna). Even those things tossed to me by a neighbor as weeds (campion) tuck in nicely amidst the ever expanding number of roses.

One would think I would reach my limit of growing things. But alas no, there’s always something else to grow, and always more crazy bulb guys and rose ladies to visit.

Therefore, each year in my garden, I try something new. Sometimes it is a great success (aster and black-eyed-susan) and sometimes it is really quite sad (astilbe and hydrangea). One year it was Gabe’s fish garden, another year a summer bed of purple and apricot flowers. This year it was a wildflower meadow in the back of the yard where mowing is laborious.

In early summer, Gabe plowed the ground and I seeded it. God has watered and watered it and also caused it to grow.

Planting seeds for me is an act of faith and a reminder of the miracle of creation. I find it remarkable and awe inspiring that within a tiny seed is everything needed to grow and flower and produce seeds to restart the process again.

To walk in the meadow now and discover california poppies, alyssum, and bachelor buttons in bloom brings me much joy.

Because most wildflowers are small, I have not been able to capture them clearly enough with my camera, but Mom has requested to see more than the zinnias which really have been the showoffs of the meadow.