High School graduation (not mine, though thanks for the compliment, the boys). I can't believe that the years have gone by so quickly--especially when some of the days (an nights) have been so long.
I'm looking at three things as I write this--Gavin and Devin's diplomas, a list of things I need to get for their graduation party tomorrow and two giant boxes of Costco plastic cutlery. One box is full of spoons, the other of forks. Both are the kind of boxes that come with spoons, forks and knives, and yet I have only about a dozen knives, and about 240 each of spoons and forks. How does that happen? Somewhere in there is a metaphor for life.
Spoons and forks are useful, but it takes a knife to do the job correctly? It's one thing to scoop, another to spear, but cutting is the most satisfying? Not sure, just know it's in there somewhere.
Our 18 year old young men (I have to put the young in front or it's just too much) are at their friend Nick's house for his grad party--I was there for a chunk, and his clan will be here tomorrow. They are the Three Musketeers, joined at the hip, etc. When Nick goes away to school in September I am expecting some long faces and sad boys--even though they'll be starting a new school year themselves, without their Nick, I expect them to be a bit sad.
They are now licensed drivers--you've all been warned--high school graduates, and as far as the law is concerned, they're adults.
How is that possible? Although it doesn't feel like I just graduated high school, surely it was only college graduation a few years ago. Didn't they just start kindergarten last year?
That first day of kindergarten, Alex and I both took the day off--me because I was too devastated to go to work, him because he was afraid if he didn't, I'd spend the whole day sitting outside of the classroom and looking in the window. He might well have been right, but he took me to breakfast and a movie and made me wait until an hour after the afterschool program started to go get them so they "had" to do the transition.
He's good at that. Making me let go just a little bit. He's just as strict and protective as I am, but has a better understanding of when they need to spread their wings and move a bit. I absolutely credit Alex with helping the boys learn boundaries for themselves, and make some mistakes, fall down a bit and learn to pick themselves up.
If it were up to me, they'd leave the house everyday wrapped in bubble wrap. Not appropriate perhaps, but true.
Tomorrow we will host lots of family and friends wishing the boys well, congratulating them and helping us to celebrate their accomplishments. Everyone coming to the house tomorrow (and lots more folks who either can't make it or are no longer with us in one way or another) has influenced our boys. We see it in their caring, compassion, volunteer work, selflessness, temper, sense of humor, sense of the ridiculous and overall personality.
Thanks to everyone who has influenced Devin and Gavin--the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. The boys wouldn't have made it with such grace without all of you. Most of all though, thank you to my fantastic husband, honey, you are an amazing friend, husband, companion, father, comedian, cheerleader, teacher and orchestrator of all things good in my life. I'm looking forward to the rest of my life and all our new adventures--this one has turned out pretty well overall.
