Today is the first day I don’t have homework. My son has graduated from high school! It’s nothing short of a miracle in some ways. He’s smart, but hates the schoolwork. He’ll be going into the trades working nearby and I’m excited for him and his new chapter.
This time period has been full of ups and downs. Frankly, I’ve been worn out lately. It’s just a lot at once. A race to the finish line to complete schoolwork, all of the prep to get to graduation (I’ve been doing a lot of organizing and cleaning), not to mention the actual event itself. Yesterday, I felt relief and nostalgia. During the ceremony I attended with my daughter and my parents, I sat there thinking about all that we’ve been through and how proud I was that we made it to this moment. Even though his dad wasn’t there physically, I’m sure he was there in spirit. I don’t tend to dwell too much on how I’d love my kid to stay in this stage and how much I’ll miss it. It was messy and great and I’m okay moving to the next beautiful part of our journey.
I’m not officially an empty nester as I still have a kid living at home, but I have more time to do things I’d like to do. And what will I do? Plenty! I have had time to cultivate my passions and I can’t wait for what is to come. More writing, singing, playing music, writing music, going to see music with friends (Brandi Carlile this August in Madison!), sharing poetry with people of all ages, and traveling.
I hope you’ll stick with me, dear reader, as I continue discovering new things about myself and this world. I’m grateful for you.
Let’s chat soon.
With affection,
Carrie VS
A VACATION CABIN UP NORTH
From The End of the Beginning
That first night,
gaming kept my son awake
long enough to catch—in one full breath,
dawn misting the trees.
Later, as I made coffee,
he showed me the picture on his phone,
deep, rich colors not found
in crayon boxes or online games,
but rather a landscape that must be lived,
where there are many characters,
but each has only one life.