It’s Homecoming Week.  I know, because for the last week, I’ve had a house full of seniors working on float building, routines, and skits.  It’s been crazy but a lot of fun.  I’ve enjoyed getting to know a lot more of the senior class.  It’s a nice group of kids.

Tonight they will get to show off the U.S.S. Seniors during the homecoming game half time show.  It’s the boat float they built and comes complete with a beach which will sit on a flatbed truck.  That, in turn, comes with a mermaid whose sequined and “shelly” outfit was designed over spaghetti and meatballs last night.

Tomorrow night is the Homecoming Dance.  And, unlike all the other homecoming activities throughout the week, I don’t know a whole lot about what’s going on with the dance.  I’m less involved in those details because I’m not needed.  And I mean that in a good way.

The boys are responsible for paying for all their discretionary items.  That includes dance tickets, dinner out, coursages, and the appropriately colored match-the-girls-dress tie.  Ryan jolted my memory about the dance last night when he was searching the house for his student ID card so he could buy his ticket.

Oh yeah, I reminded myself.  There’s a dance Saturday night. I’ve been so absorbed in getting all the other stuff done, the dance simply was not on my radar screen.  But it is now.   And that’s when I realized that there may be a slight downside to not having the boys come ask me for money.  I’m out of the loop.

But being out of the loop does not mean I’m willing to give up the freedom from having to think about how much all of this extra school stuff costs.  Or the freedom from constantly shelling out money.  I know that I may miss out on some of the details from time to time because they’re busy handling it themselves.  But that’s the whole point.  They’re handling it themselves.

Besides, I had access to the senior girls last night.  Pictures:  At the park next to the school.  Time:  5:30pm.  Dinner:  The Cheesecake Factory.  Transportation:  Nathan drives his date.  Dress attire:  Amanda (Nathan’s date) still hasn’t gotten a dress (uh oh…we had a slight mall mishap yesterday.  It burned.  Over 3.1 million square feet.  But that’s another story.)  Color of tie: To be determined.  Corsage: Nope, too expensive and gets in the way.  Don’t get her one.  Anyway, she’s not buying him a boutonniere.

Okay, that was informative.  Lesson learned:  To keep up on what’s going on, I’m going to have to stay connected to the girls.  And that’s much more fun than reaching for my wallet.