This Reminds Me

Rachel graduated tonight.  One down, three to go!

Special and eternal thanks to my brilliant niece, Sarah, who knows how to throw a party – unlike her hopeless, clueless aunt (that would be me.)   She’s even willing to drive for 3.5 hours with two small children to do so.  Sarah was 19 when Rachel was born, and our children adore her.  (Me, too.)

Like, she brought these cool graduation tablecloths, napkins and decorations with her from Houston for fellow grads Paul, Emma and Cat to enjoy at our Saturday fajita feast….

….and she alerted me to these cool photo cakes at Sam’s, which I had never noticed in my rush to the fabric softener.

For the first time – at Rachel’s graduation party – we actually ate on the deck overlooking the pond   Whoo-whoo!  The koi appreciated the attention of our friends’ kiddos, I am sure. So they got fed tortilla chips and Sarah’s famous pico de gallo – is that a problem?!

Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio was the first public school named after him.  Nancy Reagan offered these printed congratulations to the grads.   Which thrilled me because….

RR was my president, as evidenced by this 1984 photo at the RNC in Dallas.  He and Nancy were on stage during this balloon drop.  Be forgiving – I was way to heck far away.  I took the week off to enjoy the RNC.  That was when – as Lois tells me – I  “used to be hot, before you got boring.”

The original three -  Hannah, Rachel and Lois – we spared Julia tonight, leaving her with good friends and an evening at Vacation Bible School.  We heathens are missing it.  I will confess to wanting a better camera before it’s Lois’ turn in three years.

Keith’s parents came in for the actual ceremony, which qualifies them for sainthood.  There are a lot of graduates’ names before “Woodworth….”

A sea of green…..Rachel was in the back row.  Being 6’1″, she’s used to it.

One of my favorite parts of this evening:  Lois texting Hannah (who was sitting between us) – “Dear Lord I would kill for an Ipod.”  Long ceremony was it, Lois?   I also chuckled aloud when Hannah commented “I hope she has to walk home” when a school board member – who successfully fought our bus service to middle school – spoke.  Amen!

At the conclusion of kindergarten, Rachel received a self-defined award for tying her shoes. (“What the kids are most proud of.”)    I remember that day, as I will remember this on – proudly, happily, and with a touch of wonder that my baby has come so far.

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