Today was Goalielocks’ moving on ceremony marking the end of a fantastic three years at Logger’s Run Middle School. Since day one he has flourished in Middle School enjoying the academic offerings and his many friends. It was apparent tonight how much he enjoyed his school and how well he got along with his classmates. Of course, for me, it was bittersweet as it marks the end of one stage and the beginning of another stage. It seems like just yesterday he was graduated from preschool and now he’s off to high school.
The ceremony itself was at his future high school in West Boca. We found out yesterday that he has been offered a spot in the medical academy at West Boca with all of his friends. He was absolutely ecstatic to learn that he’ll be continuing his school journey with the vast majority of his school friends. We waited until tonight at dinner to give him the good news.
We waited patiently in the hot, sauna of a gym for ceremony to start. They started “Pomp and Circumstance” as the graduates filed into the gym. Maybe it was the contacts or both our bad vision, but we didn’t see Goalielocks walk into the gym at all. Once they had sat down, we didn’t seem him either. Naturally, we started to panic a bit. After a few minutes of concern, my hubby decided to go down and see if we could find him.
He headed down towards the entrance and start chatting with the principal and the police officers working the event, who assured him he was there. The hubby headed up the other bleachers to try and find him to no avail. Finally, the principal let him walk down the side and he found him. Now we could relax and enjoy the show.
As I watched the video with Goalielocks tonight, he quickly pointed out that we actually got him on video. How we missed him in the first place is beyond me. Like I said it could be the contacts or the blonde hair. Nonetheless, it was a fabulous night to celebrate the accomplishments of middle school while looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of high school.
While last night’s blog was dedicated to my favorite riffs, I could have very easily written about my manic Monday. Queue the Bangles song here please. From the very beginning of the day, and I do mean the very beginning, I had a dubious feeling about they day.
My Monday started as the clock struck midnight and Goalielocks woke me up. Sadly, he was unable to fall asleep and was quite listless. His shoulder was bothering him and he had reached that point of sleep frustration where nothing was going to help. Consequently, the poor kid only got a few hours of sleep when the alarms went off for school six hours later.
Since Goalielocks had gotten no sleep, I made the wise decision to let him stay home and sleep. The last thing we need is for him to be overtired all week and get sick. Unfortunately, when he gets sick, he gets really sick. Thankfully, he doesn’t get sick often and I wasn’t about to chance it this week. He walked in a zombie like state to my bathroom and I sent him back to work. For once, he quickly complied with my directive.
Meanwhile, I still had to get ready for work and get the Mayor to the bus stop in time. I failed. Oh it was going to be one of those Mondays. Sadly, the Mayor missed his bus and I had to drive him to southwest Boca for school While his school is much closer to my work, the commute from his school to my work is longer than my normal commute. Ugh!
All day Monday, it was one thing after another. Nothing went right and seemingly everything was going wrong. As I worked, I got an urgent call from Goalielocks at 3:30 pm. Goalielocks was concerned that I had forgotten him this morning. Meanwhile, did you notice how he waited to ask in the late afternoon when it would have been too late for me to take him to school? I did. I chuckled and reminded him that I told him to go back to bed since he literally got no sleep the night before. Keep in mind, I had spoken with him via text several times that day, but he never brought it up until he called me.
When my work day finally ended, I had hoped the commute home would provide a respite. Oh boy was I wrong. I pulled up my Waze and kept looking for routes, but the commute got longer and longer with each refresh. Noticing the extremely long commute, I called my hubby to let him know. Unfortunately, he hadn’t left the job yet, so there was no way the Mayor was gonna make it to hockey practice last night.
Meanwhile, my drive took an hour and forty minutes. It usually takes between 30-35 minutes for me to get home. Oh what a little rain and snowbirds can do to one’s commute. Honestly, driving in S. Florida is one of the most aggravating experiences one can have. As I was literally parked on the turnpike, I noticed several drivers that felt the shoulder had become their new lane. The fact that S. Florida drivers are that selfish, self-important and reckless is beyond aggravating. If someone had been changing their tire or working on their car, they would have been killed. I cant even with these people. You see that? They totally bring out my inner 13 year old girl.
Fortunately, my night ended on a high note literally. I spent it writing my blog about my favorite riffs, cuddling with my boys and researching salt water tanks with Goalielocks. Then I went to bed and shortly thereafter my hubby and Jake got home from their beer league hockey game. Before going to bed, I had sent Jake my blog link to get his opinion on my favorite riffs. He’s a complete music aficionado, so I was both excited and nervous to get his credit. When he came into my room to tell me good night, he told me I did a great job and that made my night. I love my boys. I have so much gratitude for my boys and their love. I’m quite lucky.
Before I leave you with my music video of the night, I wanted to be sure everyone in the blogosphere, Facebook, and Twitterverse are aware that tomorrow is the last day to register online for the Purple Stride event. If you’re not local to S. Florida or can’t participate, that’s okay as you can support the team with your donation. Presently, we’re over $3,000 away from our fundraising goal. Here’s the link: Team Deb Force Five
Tonight’s song comes to us courtesy of the Bangles. Enjoy “Manic Monday!”
It seems like it was only moments ago that Zachary crossed the stage in East Boynton to graduate from VPK on a warm Saturday in May between hockey games. Colin was in first grade and Jacob had just finished sixth grade. Kindergarten was an approaching reality for Zachary, but where we are now (out of elementary completely and one heading to college) seemed to be in the distant future. Only it wasn’t so distant.
Cruel and misleading, time is a mistress that pulls no punches. It passes so quickly that none of us even notice and with the blink of our eye, our babies are no longer babies, but young men and women. Okay, okay, the Mayor is only going into middle school so young men and women may be a bit of a leap, but to be fair his older brother graduated high school and its all happening in what seems to have been a blink of the eye. I’m pretty sure just last Christmas, the Mayor was in his Exersaucer and Jacob was opening his favorite Goosebumps book.
After thirteen years, three schools, three houses, three boys, two states and countless businesses (run by the Mayor,) our elementary career as a family is over. No more awkwardly timed donuts with dads or muffins with moms on a Thursday or Friday morning. No more recess, parents running interference or safety patrol for this family. As the Mayor moves on to middle school, he gains independence and accountability for his studies.
It is hard to say bye to Sunset Palms since we’ve been there since it has opened and it has been great to our family. We’ve had so many amazing teachers throughout the years at the school and Mr. Fleming is both Zachary and Colin’s favorite. We were so lucky to be zoned for such an incredible school.
Saying goodbye to preschool was just as hard with Zachary graduated in 2011. Each of his graduations or moving on ceremonies, signals a change of life stages for our family. While the transitions in stage are a bit difficult and emotional, there is much beauty to be found in our life’s new stage. I look forward to showing what life’s next stage has in store for our family and for the Mayor.
