My nephew, Devon, is a 2007 GHS graduate and his graduation party is today. At our commencement exercises, I stand beside the superintendent and BOE president as they hand out the diplomas. I get the opportunity to shake hands with the kids, and sometimes if I’m lucky and I know the student well enough, I get a big hug. Our super laughs at me because I always tear up. I know it’s not the most professional, but I get emotional about the graduates. Either because I’ll just miss them or in some cases because it’s a miracle that the kid is walking by me with a diploma.
This year when Devon walked up, I didn’t just tear up, I blubbered like a baby. I’ve been his principal for three years and I see him all the time at school. But I’m telling you, when he stood up for his turn, I didn’t see Devon, the GHS student. I saw the little blonde haired boy he was at three and I could hear his little boy voice again. It was amazing to me that time passed that quickly and he wasn’t headed out to Omi’s yard to get into the kiddie pool with my daughter Bryna. That he’s actually graduating and moving away to college. . .unbelievable to me.
Nothing in this world is more important than our families, every moment that we get to spend watching them grow up and sharing life. I know Devon will move on and do exceptionally well in college and afterwards. I just long for the days when like Lisa with her six year old and those of you who link to pictures of your little ones, we could still hold them in our laps and listen to their stories.
And now it comes full circle. As my two nephews and my niece continue to grow up, my brother and his wife announce their pregnancy. They’ve been married for 18 years and this is their first baby. My mom, dad and I have been waiting for this announcement for so long because we KNOW how much this child will change and enrich their lives. AND, how absolutely brilliant Ziggy and Jill will be as parents. Now we get to do it all again. 🙂 If we can only get them to move closer. . . so I don’t miss a moment.