In the Beginning.....

Matt had come home from the University at Buffalo on May 11, 2009. A summer job was waiting and he was finally going to be an employee. Being relatively poor, that was quite exciting. He started work on May 18, 2009 as a doorman in Manhattan. We ran in the AHA Wall Street Run/Walk on his first day. Well, Matt ran and I ran and walked. Matt was waiting for me at the finish line, as always when we participated together.  Life was coming into focus for him. Matt had pledged Pi Lambda Phi, had very respectable grades, had made some great friends at UB, while staying in contact with the friends he had made in elementary school. He was a member of True Blue, a school spirit organization. He was on track to do a 3+2 in Economics. Life was good. The working hours were a little crazy and Saturdays and Sundays were often taken with work. 7am to 3pm, 3pm to 11pm or 11pm to 7am. It was always changing, but after the first paycheck and working with the people in the building, it all seemed worth it.  He met a friend from an SHP Bike Tour in the Village for dinner.  He stopped by Armani to buy a jacket.  I said nothing.  It is hard to manage money when you have little experience.  Eventually, Matt asked me to hold some of his money each week.  I knew he was maturing.  There was a certain amount of satisfaction that I had done my job as a Mother.  The summer would be great!