Summer. Time.

I don’t generally like to be alone with my thoughts.

I took Lark for a long walk. I don’t listen to music when I walk. It’s the one time of day I am unplugged and can breathe in my surroundings with all my senses. Well, I don’t use my sense of taste, ’cause you know, germs and poisonous flower petals and all. But I do note the sights, sounds, and smells (sometimes ewww, sometimes, yum). I let my mind roam along with my steps. 

The other day I walked the dog into the parade of purple robed teens on their way to a local high school graduation. There were bow ties but no bows. Shiny shoes, wobbly heels, hair both coiffed and deliberately, fashionably messy. Wide grins lit the pavement. I thought back to my own high school graduation in 1986. We were a small class, nary 40 kids, girls sporting white dresses (Laura Ashley for me, I mean, come on, it was the 80s) and khakis and blue blazers for the gents. It was a hot day in Virginia, the sun blazing on our outdoor ceremony. The word of the day was probably a tie between Pride and Relief.

Pomp and Circumstance makes me weepy.

And here we are today, the last day of school for my boys. Bird has flourished in 5th grade and is on to middle school. My GAWD, where does the time go?! Deal had a marvelous year in 3rd grade with the most fantastic teacher at the helm. Both kids are poised for great things. I’m not sure of much in this life, but of this I am certain. These little boys of mine are whip smart, curious, and insightful. Their lens makes me see everything in new light. I pray they use their smarts for good. 

Bird was helping me at the school recently, and we landed in Deal’s class at the end of the day. His teacher was talking about word choice in writing and asked the children to tell her one word that describes them as they walked out the door. Blah words like awesome and cool were on the taboo list. Bird said “ambitious.” Deal said “inventive.”

These mischievous, sometimes cheeky boys of mine will glide across a stage, diploma, in hand, soon enough. I don’t wish away time, nor do I beseech it to slow its pace. Time is a gift and a curse. We bear its pock marks and badges in our own unique ways. There’s no going back. There’s no predicting what’s to come. However, I do know one thing to be true, ambitious and inventive will bear the test of time when it comes to Bird and Deal.