Rewind (written in July)...

For many reasons, May came and time flew by. With May came the end of the second semester. Finals came. And finals went. Graduation snuck up on me in a way that I was not expecting. The hype around the end of the year was wonderful and festive. There were appreciation dinners and ice cream socials to attend. The reality of the first year being over was something to celebrate. We had made it and it felt good! Then graduation came. With this came a lurking feeling of change. A third of the students were going to move on. Suddenly, we started to see moving vans and began to feel the Close empty out. I found myself grieving the change that was happening ever so slowly. Each day brought one more person moving on to the new journey ahead. Once again, change slapped me in the face. I was faced with the realization that this is not a word that will be eliminated from my vocabulary any time soon. In fact, I am beginning to wonder what part change plays in the process of our journey.

June brought much activity. Addison’s play ran us like nothing before. The two weeks before opening night was filled with rehearsals that began in the late afternoon and ran until 8:00 that night. Dress rehearsals required hair and make-up to be done. She had many late nights getting to bed. Bruce, Kitty, and Stuart arrived the Thursday of opening night only to see Addison briefly while she was whisked off to the performance. Friday, Mom and Dad joined us. With a house full of guest, I was like a ping-pong ball. It went something like this……Take Addison to her performance…… Try to visit with everyone…… Relax some (Ha! Ha!)...... Meet you where…… Take Parker to baseball…… What is for dinner? ...... Go get Addison…… Watch Parker’s baseball game…… Go back to start and repeat…… Needless to say, when I finally got to see the play, it was amazing. Addison did fantastic!! I was once again filled with awe watching her perform. She just seemed so natural on stage.

While Addison was busy with the play, Parker was busy with baseball. He had practices on Friday evenings. Usually, Brad and Parker would bike the 2 ½ miles to the field while Addison and I would take the train (her bike was stolen earlier in the year). On Sunday’s, it was back to the field for the game. His season ended with three hard losses. BUT, he came away from it still loving the sport and looking forward to next year. On the Sunday that all of the parents were in NYC, we ventured down him play his last game. He scored twice and had a fantastic game.

Addison and Parker got out of school for the summer on June 28th. This gave us a few days before we left for Georgia to have fun in the city. We went to the Bronx Zoo and Brooklyn Botanical gardens. Both of these trips with did with a family we have become great friends with. It is so neat to see these parts of the city. They are hidden jewels.

Brad began his CPE (this is where he is a Chaplin in a hospital) in June at Beth Israel. He has enjoyed his group and the experience so far. Due to him having CPE this summer, he will not be coming to Georgia to meet us until mid August. It has been hard for him knowing this is where we are going to be for the summer. But, he has been very good about it.

So here we are……in Georgia! Home sweet home!