Long week-Short Week

 

It was only Wednesday night, but it seems like it has been a long week.  Merrick walked the stage and finalized his first academic chapter.  Grandprize and Grandma made the trip over and we had plenty of last minute rearranging as the weather wasn't cooperating for an outdoor ceremony.  The original plan was everybody watching from the stadium bleachers, but in the end Amy sat with the faculty--she had amazing seats and was able to high five Merrick on his walk back from graduating--Grandma and I were in the back breaking bleachers, and Grandprize with in the plush seats of the auditorium watching a live stream of the ceremony.  We got there over an hour before the start and the place was already packed.  It was and is always great to see so many people supporting the students. After the normal pomp and circumstance the five of us headed over to Greystone to some light appetizers and chatter to wrap up the evening.  Merrick was a little nonplused about the whole graduation, stating that he didn't see the reason to celebrate what he was expected to accomplish.  Grandma thought she had heard this before somewhere.....about 32 years ago.  Be that as it may, Merrick was clearly pleased with the completion and everyone's support.  We headed home earlyish...as the new graduate had a full day of life guarding in the morning....although if the weather cooperated for him he was planning on spending most of it in the breakroom practicing his putting.

Kind of a big weekend

 

Early May is not unlike Early April...a blur of important days.  Anniversaries, Mother's day, and Ella's Birthday.  She hit a bit one, and it is now a little harder to pretend she isn't careening into adulthood.  We weren't with her, but she still spent it with family and met Bob/Nancy at the Joint for a beer, she continued with the mythology that it was her first time there although the bar tender kept calling her out on her BS to the delight of all that were there. With her year wrapped up she loaded up her car and head off to summer to work at a Camp that hosts campers with revolving disabilities.  Putting goodness back into the world.  Grace was playing LaX in MKE and Amy went to cheer her one, while I helped Sophia move out of her apartment in preparation for her graduation.  Hauled a trailer load of stuff back to GB.  This fall we will haul another trailer of different stuff back to set Merrick up in his dorm...ah the wheels of time.  Sophia's graduation and walking the stage was an emotional event and struck me more than I had anticipated.  She was home for only a day before she started her job in town.  Following her heart and helping others where she can. It is these milestones and rites of passage all coming so quickly together. The next day it was a different stage, different kid and all the same emotions.  Grace was inducted into the National Honor Society, complete with one of her friends reading Grace's bio with heartfelt warmth and talking about her volunteer service.  It is emotional to sit in the seats and watch others talk highly of your kids. It seems the kids are more accustomed to doing good things.  Both Merrick and Grace turned down invites to a school award ceremony and picked up their letters and accolades a few days ago without the pomp and circumstance. Grace showed us her big letter for academic performance, we asked Merrick about his.  He replied, "Yea, I got one for academics too, it looks the same as the one I got last time for volunteering."  They all are putting good into the world in so many different ways, but each way is inspirational to me.

Keeping the miles in the milestones....

 

April was its normal blur, but we had a few new milestones and rights of passage.  Grace had her junior prom with all its pageantry and pomp and giggling friendship.  She also hosted her LaX team for a team dinner pasta buffet. The house smelled of garlic for two days and they were a great group of girls. They have been playing a couple games a week, the competition is tough this year.  She is also getting daily recruiting 'hits' from coaches across the country. Merrick had his senior ball, a lower key affair than prom but still another rite of passage for him and his gang. With the weather turning nicer his golf team is getting more sun burn than frostbite for a change. Both of them are now deep into AP testing season and trying to rack up some college credits a little early.  Easter came and went, but they still hid a Basket for Grace...it was under the ottoman, but still took her about 20 minutes to find it.  Ella couldn't make it home for the holiday and Sophia spent it in EC with Grandprize and Grandma Nancy.  Ella also ran her first 1/2 marathon with her roommate.  We loaded up the bikes on the car and chased and cheered her all over Eau Claire on a cool rainy morning.  It was a blast, fun to chase her and fun to see her smiling as she ran the 13 plus miles in her personal best time!