See Ya!

I’m leaving to see my baby brother and sister graduate.
I can’t even believe the words I just wrote. Graduating High School? Seriously?! When in the heck did they grow up? I feel old. I feel really old.

I remember my High School graduation. It was hot. It was muggy. It was boring. There were speeches. There were long, heavy robes.
I remember practicing a few days before as a class. I remember thinking, “Why do we need practice how to walk and find the next available seat?” They were expecting us to leave the confines of our safety nets, and go off into the real world as adults, yet we needed to practice walking in a line and finding a chair? I guess with 400 dopey high school students it couldn’t hurt to review the basics.
I liked high school. I wouldn’t say it was the “Best four years of my life!” but it was pretty good. I had lots of friends, I did well and wasn’t picked on, so I guess that’s better than some.
I can’t wait to go see my little graduates. They’re still babies in my mind, I can’t imagine how my parents must be feeling!
I recall being in elementary school and a teacher telling me, “When you grow up, time will fly by.” This, obviously, seemed like a lie. Boy, was she right. As an adult it seems like days, weeks, months just disappear, don’t they? There is never enough time to do anything.
Enjoy today, you’ll never get it back. Make it the best you possibly can. Don’t get in an argument about the stupid stuff, if you think about it, it’s probably not worth it. If your kid doesn’t want to eat breakfast, don’t get into a screaming match and make them cry, it’s not worth it and now they can’t digest their food.
Don’t sweat the small stuff and treasure the ones you love.
To the baby of the family…I know you’re next, and it’s only a couple of years away, but maybe you stay a sweet little baby for me…pleeeease!

See you when I get back. I’ll be the one sporting the fire-engine red sunburn with frizzy hair. You’ll know me when you see me.
Oh, and a big Happy Birthday to my older brother, Richard! I love you!