Dear Family,

Even though I go to college relatively close to home, I still feel as if I have moved away. Thank you for recognizing that I wanted to go "off" to college even though I stayed in-state. I know I don't visit very often- maybe two or three times a semester, but when I'm home, I don't want your day-to-day activities to change just for me.

I love coming home and having to play chauffeur for my siblings if I want a car for the day. I love being caught up in the hectic-ness of making dinner and doing laundry and feeding the cat and doing chores. I love going back to a normal "home-life" for a few days before going back to the stress and everyday routine in college.

I'm sorry that I always ask for the exact same meals every time I'm home, but college has a lack of Dad's chili, so by the time I get home I really need that comfort food. Don't apologizing for only having leftovers or taco making's in the fridge- those sound great to me!

I apologize for hogging the washer and dryer for two days, but the ones at home don't work as well as the school ones, so I can't shove all of my laundry in one washer at home. More loads= more time. (Oh, and the bath- I really miss those too.)

Yes, I do want to play that card game with you. Don't be so hesitant and question if I need to do homework. I will have the whole rest of the school year to do homework, I want to play the game with you until the point where we are yelling at each other because that's how competitive we are.

I will be attempting to hold the cat as often as possible, I don't get enough animal love at school. Even if she tries to run away, I will be making efforts to make her love me more than you for the next few days.

Finally, thank you for supporting me. Thank you for letting me live on campus and go on adventures with friends. Thank you for letting me work a summer job that I actually wanted to do. Thank you for supporting me in my choice of major, and in my excitement and plans for studying abroad.

Thank you and I love you,

Your college kid