Graduation Day: The End of an Era

The alarm went off at 7:55; my heart jumped and the tears popped into my eyes. My head told me to get up and move because I don’t want to be crying all day.

I brushed my teeth and laid back down for a minute – more tears. Nope don’t do that! So I went to Joe’s room to wake him up. When I opened the door, he popped up and sat there. My little man is excited for the day. I sat down on the edge of his bed and rubbed his arms. I put lotion on them the night before because they had felt so dry.

“Yes – they are much softer,” I told him.

He keeps burrowing his head into my shoulder, wanting me to kiss him. He likes a little sensory input in the morning, and we don’t usually have time, but today I took it. I had to take advantage of the moment.

As I headed downstairs to make my coffee, the tears were flowing. I look outside to see it’s still raining. For a brief moment, I think – crap, how am I going to set up for all these people coming to our house later? But then I said to myself, it is what it is and I am not going to let that get to me …

It’s Graduation Day

There is a senior breakfast this morning and rehearsal. The graduates take a big group picture, and then they walk the halls in cap and gown at the elementary school. I think about my friend who teaches there knowing her son is one of those kids. The tears are back – I wish I could hug her! Those raindrops may as well be my tears because now they are really flowing, and my nose is running.

“Joe, we have to go in 2 minutes!” My heart is heavy.

He came down the stairs and I helped him tuck in his shirt, put on his belt and get him out the door to graduation rehearsal.

Messages from Heaven

Later in the day, after a lot of cleaning and running around, Joe is back home and sitting in the yard listening to Spotify over the jukebox. I was just about done setting up and going outside for one last check. As I stood there, I heard a song come on “You Got A Fast Car.” Oh my gosh, that was it for me. That was my nephews telling me they were here! I made Joe get up and dance with me while I told him about the significance and the story behind the song:

I had two nephews who you don’t know. Tony, you never met, and Michael passed away when you were a baby. Michael and Tony were both killed in car accidents. On the way to the church, the day of the funeral this same song came on the radio and I know whenever I hear that song, I know he is with me. Your birthday, April 15th, is the same as Tony’s birthday, and when you were born, you weighed 7 lbs and 7 ozs. The same as the day he died, which was 7/7. I have always felt that was a sign from Tony on the day you were born and that he is your guardian angel.

We had our dance, and Joey consoled me saying,

“it’s ok, Mom”

As soon as the song was over, I ran to my phone to text my daughters, and at that very moment, a Twitter notification came across my phone from a Zatch saying “congratulations” to a tweet about Joe’s graduation day. I don’t know who he is, but another of my nephew’s Zach just passed away 7 months ago, and I believe in my heart of hearts, that was him. You could never convince me otherwise. Now I follow him! If that notification didn’t pop up at that moment, I would never have seen it. His cousins were all with us.

Then This Happened … Graduation

For more graduation photos this is a link to my facebook.

The End of an Era

So that’s it! I had my first baby 34 years ago and now my last of 5 just finished high school! WOW! Where did all the time go? My life is flashing before my eyes.

It has been my pleasure to watch my little man go from struggling to learn to walk and then see him walk across that stage and graduate from high school. The only part that wasn’t as pleasurable was his detour with cancer for two years, but my God, this little man did it all with strength and grace. Eighteen years of fighting to give him the best life and education he could possibly have. Every bit of it was rewarded a hundredfold by the joy he has given me watching him flourish and rise above!

This weekend we will do some celebrating and I will hug him, kiss him, and shed some tears from the love and pride he has given me.

A huge milestone for him and the end of an era for me; my last child’s high school graduation.

Congratulations to all the 2019 graduates! And to my little man, keep spreading the love and shining your light – your Momma loves you.

As my son is graduating, my oldest is retiring from teaching and writes a beautiful letter to her students and colleagues – don’t put away the tissues yet and read her letter.

And happy birthday to my Abby Dabby Do – she turns 2 today!! Thank God I have grandbabies to enjoy reaching those milestones now <3 <3

Happy Sunday and Much Love!

Sandy

#enlighten #empower #inspire #educate #BeKind