The End of The Beginning

Exactly a year ago today when my son was graduating from college, I told him I was a little bit sad; sad that this chapter of life ("with all of the privileges of being an adult but very little of the responsibility of being one") was coming to an end. 

Tate receives his diploma, May 11, 2019

Then, with way more wisdom than I had at 22, he responded, "Don't be sad, mom" and he quoted Winston Churchill “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

I find myself thinking a lot about all those who've worked hard to complete their degrees this graduation season, those first-in-their family-ever grads from high school or college, those who've juggled raising families or jobs or challenging circumstances to get to this finish line but whose celebrations this year will look a lot different. Despite the lack of  festivities, my hope for all the 2020 graduates is that this "end of the beginning" will be full of sweet memories and light and hope and dreams, and fun, too. 

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Cinco de Mayo

Crosby's Two

For the last 15 years or so we’ve had a dog as a part of our family, two little non-shedding dogs. First there was Libby and later came Brownie.

In 2018, however, Crosby joined our family. She’s McKenzie’s dog. 

A so-called “beagle-mix” from Wolftrap Animal Rescue whose namesake is Sidney Crosby, a player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey team.

                          

A perpetual smile on her face, Crosby’s a sweet, 50-pound ball of energy who, along with our daughter, has been staying with us since the quarantine began. The condo McKenzie lives in doesn’t offer Crosby much opportunity to chase squirrels or birds or dig holes unsupervised but since she’s been here she’s gotten plenty of all three of those things. 

It's her birthday and today, she’s two.

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National Oatmeal Cookie Day

Speaking of cookies, as I did yesterday, today is National Oatmeal Cookie Day, as well as National Raisin Day, (they go hand in hand, I suppose,) but I'm not a fan and judging by the number of memes, there are lots of folks who agree with me.

My husband is a huge oatmeal raisin cookie fan, however. They are his favorite. 

This hilarious meme sums it all up pretty nicely.

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Cookies Are Good Medicine

Because there's hardly anything to worry about these days for us worriers 😉, when you're husband crashes his bike on a Sunday afternoon bike ride, you are mostly relieved that he didn't suffer a head injury. When he later almost passes out from the pain and you insist he go to an Urgent Care, you are not surprised to learn he has broken his clavicle and might possibly need surgery.

But when you're next door neighbors hear about it and deliver a dozen chocolate chip cookies to your door two days later (packaged like this) along with a half gallon of milk, everybody feels better. 

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Happy 50th Birthday Earth Day!

On This Day in Sports History

A happy Falcons fan.

Twenty years ago today, the Atlanta Falcons selected Michael Vick as the first overall pick of the 2001 NFL draft.

Vick became a fan favorite in Atlanta and his No. 7 jersey was seen all over the city, including at our house. 

Christmas gifts that year included a helmet and jersey.

An exciting player to watch, Michael Vick became Tate’s first football hero. Two years later, Tate even asked his kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Podojil, if she would call him “Vick.” As only a seasoned teacher would know to  do, she told him it that would require that she let everyone in the class use a second name which would be too difficult, however she’d be glad to call him him Vick for one full day.  She even let him write his name, Vick, on his papers. He was elated and, no doubt, why he's still a Falcons fan today. 

Tate, fourth from the left, in a kindergarten group shot. 

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