Day 129 in 2024

School work is basically done for seniors, so now play time...

Day 128 in 2024

Counting down...to an ending, and a beginning.

Day 122 in 2024

Tonight was the last night of band. Or at least it was the last band concert I will probably ever attend. He played piano in the jazz band, bassoon in the symphonic band, and the microphone during the end-of-year presentations, because as a drum major he spoke in front of the whole audience (which he also did back in December at the winter concert).

I still remember how nervous he was about attending the public school. It wasn't that he didn't have much self-confidence, or a strong sense of self even, he was just shy and, well, nervous. And when I look where is now, I am immeasurably proud and amazed. I knew he'd do well in school, I was confident that he'd make some friends and I felt pretty sure that he would remain true to himself through it all. But I would never in a million years have dreamed that he'd want to be a drum major, or on the drive team in Robotics. I couldn't have guessed at the vast number of lives he would touch, not just the depth of friendships in his inner circle, but also the teachers he's connected with and the many, many students he has mentored or bonded with in other ways.

Tonight when the band seniors were presented with parting gifts (a long-standing tradition of an engraved pen set) my heart swelled at the loud cheers when his name was called. And again when he was given the award honoring "Great Scholarship, Musicianship, and Service" within the band and even more cheering errupted. I go on all the time about how wonderful this kid is, but we all know how biased I am, so it's extra special when others see it, too, and I cannot think of a greater reward that this one coming from his peers.

Day 97 in 2024

States! I couldn't be prouder of my child or his team. They worked hard, they were down but not out, they never gave up their spirit, and in the end they not only took second on their district field, but won the State level Engineering Inspiration. That means our season isn't over because this team qualified for the World Championships twice—once based on points earned in play of over the course of the season, and a second time for being awesome enough to win EI award at the state level. I can't think of a better end to a senior year season.

Day 94 in 2024

NHS farewell night.

I've been noting all the final moments, all the lasts, and this is a big one. Or, actually, this is a first. One measure of the last school year is all the last times—the last halftime show, the last band concert, the last robotics competition. But another measure is the firsts the herald the end—the first senior skip day, the first college acceptance, the first awards night. Tonight's NHS farewell ceremony was a first and only, and it fell unfortunately, on the eve of the Robotics State Championships kick off. We were supposed to already be in our hotel in Saginaw, but while Calvin was more than willing to skip the walk across the stage and instead pick up his cords from the office some nondescript day at school, he was gracious about letting me have this moment before we hit the road. There won't be many of these moments, so each should be savored.

We are so proud of him.