5...4 3... 2...1....SENIORS!!!

..Earlier this summer in Louisville,  I had a chance to  visit my friend Jill for the first time in over two years. She was at home, recovering from  a broken kneecap and a captive audience for the type of educational chatter we  had always loved. 
 I entered her home and for several minutes entertained myself  looking around her stylish living room, recalling   the many times previous visiting there. She was occupied on the phone and kept apologizing  for the phone call that was taking way too long......
She hung the phone up, stared at me for a moment and simply said . "SENIORS."
"I know,right?" ,was all I could say...
In that moment, we were back, to meeting when our kids were just kindergarteners .   We didn't delve to deep into  how we are feeling..yet...After all there was a ton of catching up to do and stories to tell. This seemed easier, safer in many ways then going into the depth of emotion for so many of us, in that word. I left there later that day and drove the all too familiar drive back to Cleveland replaying all the conversations from my    visit.  This even included my favorite comment of the weekend, from one SENIOR (a lifelong friend of Katrina's) when I asked where she was applying to college, " I will be  keeping that a secret...It's less stressful that way..."   ... I laughed and  glanced back in the rear-view mirror just in time to see her grin.  I then selfishly  requested that she make it  within one hour of Katrina's college..She said she would see what she could do...Ha!! :}

As the countdown to first day of Senior Year continues, I can't help but notice the differences in what we are conversing about in our family . We are trying to schedule the last of the college visits,  fill out  Common Ap, , search for scholarships, look at timelines for school projects with an eye to the future... so much to do..but there's time , right? still lots of time right?? Some days I am just fine with the process.. and there are moments..just a few..where my eyes tear up.....I guess that's what friends, past and present are for ,right? They're  guides through these days we aren't sure we want to count...

Vacation Preparation @ our House

Again reflecting.... 16 years of preparing for vacations with Keith's family.  From that first time @ the Outer Banks where we watched one year olds eat sand and marveled at  trying to get three one year olds to pose for a photo shoot in fancy outfits, it has been   so ......stuck on the right word to use here as it has been so many different things..
No longer worried about how  to squeeze carseat, pack-in-play and  strollers into  the vehicle, we  pack differently, bring more or less baggage to the table. Literally and figuratively we have never been the ones to pack light.... Often accused by many of over-packing, we have always been the ones to  prepare by  thinking ahead to what "could" happen.

And the conversations have changed ..no longer consumed with chatter about how we are raising them, there seems to be to be endless talk with friends and family about what  they will do now...

 I am realizing that we have packed, unpacked and taken the last of these type vacations before Katrina leaves for college. This means life suddenly begins to move a little more quickly that we are ready for...and 335 days may seem endless but daunting!!

Holidays and The Only Child

.. We spent Father's day with my inlaws as  per usual. What  was unusual  was not one of my father-in-law's biological children were in attendance. When I casually  mentioned it to Lowell, he said, "Oh that's true."  noticing it for the first time and in prompt parental  fashion defended there whereabouts.  Keith had golfed with him earlier in the week, Margo and Bruce had called and are on their way in later this week for the anniversary...all is good there.  My point being  the  spattering of daughter-in law's and grandchildren  held joy in after all what is just one day in a very family -filled summer.
 In fast forward motion, I  realize that only too soon there will be everydays and holidays  without my only child  in attendance. We have bestowed a sense of priority for  the special occasions of those around us, not always successful..but the heart is there.
 So, when the day comes and the phone rings and Katrina says, " Mom,  will you mind if I go home with....... for Thanksgiving?'  will I be able to be able to bite my homesick tongue and be  "Ok " celebrating without her or at best an "alternative holiday"? Sharing, that skill aptly learned as  a pre-schooler is one we are reminded of   many times in the next year as parents.
From college applications, interviews and auditions, I begin to contemplate all the ways in which we will be "sharing" our girl and  her accomplishments with tons of new people this year . She has a truly unique set of experiences that  will serve her well as the stepping stones to her version of "success".

The Journey Begins...

...So, I  have promised Katrina I will not remind her of this imminent  countdown  out loud. she says that will annoy her. (btw---it is 359 days! -- I hope that is not as "annoying " in print...) 
 It got me thinking as to why I become so date & time oriented on these kind of events when to know me, is to know I am  a incredible procrastinator.   Yet, I have this fascination with planning ahead. I  become very detail-oriented when I first can see the big picture.
Today... on  a quiet summer morning here ,  I  can't help but be reflective... I am working on a project for my in-laws 50th Anniversary. This has led me to plowing through years of  boxes of disheveled photos, seemingly afterthoughts of the past. Yet, I look at each within the moment  it was taken and marvel how significant it was then and now.  I begin to ponder what  projects could be taken on with these photos for graduation and the  glimmer of excitement  for that creative process begins.. 
  I will put aside the picture of three year old Katrina entering Friends School for the first time, in awe of how that choice, as well as many others since, were the forks in the road we were glad we took.
Now, comes the time to be in awe of my daughter. Her awesome ability to know her learning style and keen awareness of how to advocate for herself will  be the driving forces this year. I am simply along for the ride!! (OH, that is if I she can arise before NOON  this summer!  HA!)

Intro

About  a month ago, when  skimming the Montessori High School calender for  the next year, I saw it..... June 9, 2013. The date my only child, Katrina will graduate . Frozen, I just sat startled, clicked on my "Retrospective Playlist" on Spotify and had a quiet WOW moment.
   Then, the whirl in my brain began and I started to plan out her graduation party!! ( It's just what I do!!)  Who should I send the Save the Date cards to? When to have a party and how to do the combined family/friend type event... What unique party  can we throw??
Within the next few days, as the graduation notices and party invites rolled in we decided it was time to take a step back in time.
We attend the graduation parties of a couple of her early classmates, dined with many of her friends from that era, including her four  year  pre-school teacher and visited the old location of Friends School Elementary. She had the  moment  of "This all looks so small now..It use to seem HUGE"...   She even located the very spot where she cracked her head open while running laps  (on the curve where the sidewalk meets the grass). I sat in the small tunnels and had deja vu moments. Hours spent conversing about the stories of the day with fellow parents ,
 pictures taken of  almost every spot, snapshots of  the beginnings of an educational ride....

  Sitting  at   my first Montessori High School graduation last Sunday, I observed many other parents of incoming  SENIORS shedding tears .. whether  they were touched by the ceremony , had a personal connection with a graduate, or were looking into our collective future (or all of the above), there were knowing glances passed amongst this small community..


This blog will be my way of sharing my thoughts on  this last year  before Katrina heads off to college and what twists and turns THAT will bring!!   


                                                    361 DAYS  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!