Poetry Train/ Manic Monday

Graduate

You walked out, in line with your classmates,
Your red graduate's gown flowing as you moved.
And you were so handsome, a young man,
Not really my baby anymore.
Your shoulders were back with pride,
Your stride mature and dignified.
Then you saw me, and stretched out that big, gentle hand.
I placed my smaller hand in yours, and we walked together
Side by side, in view of all there,
But you weren't ashamed of walking with your mother.
You stopped in front of my aisle, and leaned over,
Kissing my forehead, and murmuring,
"I love you mommy." And I cried.
My tears streamed down my face
As I tried to find my place with the family.
And I realized, they were all crying too,
Out of love, and pride, of the man you have become.

i'm feeling like a squashed tomato.........

cause i've gotta play catch-up. :) lol........bad pun, i know. sooooo, deep breath, and here i go....

Monday, as you might have noticed, was my wedding anniversary. We celebrated nineteen years of marriage......YAY! Has it all been perfect??? Hell, no! But that's what makes it even sweeter; we've weathered the rough spots and have come out stronger and happier for them. Tonight, we finally got the opportunity to go to dinner and celebrate. Mmmmmmmm SEAFOOD! I stuffed myself silly on crab legs, which are my ultimate fave food, really. It was nice to sit with my husband and son and daughter and enjoy a wonderful meal together.

Tomorrow, my son, Em, graduates from high school. Technically, he'll graduate twice; tomorrow night from his Culinary Arts program at the local Joint Vocational School, and then again a week from Sunday from his home school. Em hasn't been one of the top students in his class, academically.....but we're still enormously proud of him. He's struggled with several things throught his life, and has succeeded in spite of these issues. Two weeks before his second birthday, Em was hit by a car. He suffered multiple skull fractures, including a depression against his optic nerve, and a fracture on his temple that resulted in a subdural hematoma on the temperal lobe, which had to be surgically removed the night of the accident. He also had a fracture of the femur, and had to be in a body cast for six weeks. Needless to say, these were tough things for a two-year old to tolerate. And, the results were long-lasting. Em was later diagnosed with a non-verbal learning disability. This makes it difficult for him to absorb information from things that he reads; he does much better if the information is aural. This has created some real challenges in his educational career, as you can imagine. But, tomorrow, he graduates from high school. And in the fall, he will begin college in a local culinary school. We're so very proud of him, for reaching for his goals, and for all of his accomplishments.