A Bundle of Letters

Many weeks ago, when we realized that it was very unlikely that Grace would have an in person, typical graduation, I started racking my brain trying to come up with something that would help to make the day a little more special.  I ended up sending a note to special teachers, family friends and family asking them to write a letter to Grace.  The letter could include anything they wanted- congratulations, funny anecdotes, advice for the future, etc.  

On graduation day, I presented the bundle to Grace.  She was truly touched to realize that everyone had spent time and effort writing these letters.  She hasn't read them all at once, instead she's spaced them out.  She's shed tears and laughed as she's read!  She heard from her beloved middle school teacher, her favorite history teacher, her ballet instructor and family friends that have known her since she was born!  I tend to believe that while they are important to her now, they will only become more so as the years go by.  

12 Weeks In... Or Maybe 15? 20 million?

We've been staying in for 12 weeks.  It feels like 20 million.  Harris is bored out of his mind.  Grace is missing friends, though she's started to see some while remaining socially distant (sort of).  It's all gotten really old.  There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel though as lately we've had a few things that feel a tad bit normal and just yesterday our governor lifted the stay at home order.

Like many, I've never experienced anything like this in my lifetime.  I cannot believe how much loss there has been; lives, livelihoods, jobs, graduations, proms, vacations, businesses, schools, the list goes on and on....

I thought I would compile a list of what's gone on in the past three months so that someday I'll look back and remember more than the loss and the grief.  Of course, there have been moments of beauty and I'm always thankful for time spent with those I love.

*A local photographer came and took our "porch-trait" to raise money for our local food pantry.  I think I'll treasure this photo as a reminder of this time.

*In the beginning of lockdown I was super productive and cleaned out closets, drawers, cabinets and the basement.  But it seems like it's lasted so long that it needs to already be done again.

*We attended a vigil in our town and Grace attended a protest (this was just last week and clearly social distancing was not a thing here).

*We made our own drive in theater one evening.  We got Shack Shake and watched Grease on the big screen.

*We've been at this long enough that it appears that none of Harris' clothes fit any longer.  Perhaps it's because we have started a new season but it's a bit of a problem.  Case in point- the pants he has on in the photos.

*Speaking of clothing, through an odd set of circumstances, Harris has three of the same exact hoodie (something was wrong with the first one so they sent a replacement.. twice).  It's pink and he wears it almost every single day.  His teachers must think that that is all he owns.  They also must think that he is filthy as it appears that it never gets washed.  I made him wear the sweatshirt for our photos above because in my mind that pink sweatshirt will forever be linked to quarantine.

*Perhaps one of the brightest spot in the entire thing has been that I've reconnected with my bookclub ladies from Atlanta!  We have been meeting via zoom every week and it's been so wonderful!

*The ducks have been like therapy.

*Grace cut Bryce's hair and Bryce cut Harris'.  Grace took the scissors to her own.  Mine is just really long.  Maybe it's time for a pixie cut again.

*We've started watching "Lost" together every night.

*Grace dressed up for a virtual prom with friends.  Wouldn't you know this was the one year that we had a gorgeous dress for her (that is pink lemonade!).

*We cleared out and seeded the orchard and meadow areas.

*We've trapped and released 3 raccoons that kept getting in the duck pen.

*Harris has bought PC parts (all his money) and built himself a computer.  The pandemic has not helped us in our fight against computer time.

*We've acquired 7 chicks, 2 ducks and 2 barn cats.

*Three separate times we've chased deer out of our deer fence when the fence was left open (we don't know by whom).  We were not always successful and it's been sooooo frustrating.

*We planted 45 trees (whips) and were heartbroken as the above mentioned deer munched on them.

*We made homemade pasta for the first time ever!

*Both children finished the school year online.

*Daffodil and Peony season have come and gone.

*I managed, for Grace's virtual graduation, to wear my dress backwards.  Apparently, not getting dressed on the regular makes one forget how to actually get dressed.

*Grace managed to help direct her school's first ever virtual play.

*We celebrated Easter, May Day, Memorial Day, my sister's birthday, Mother's Day, maple syrup season, and graduation.

*We had zoom meeting with friends far and wide for cocktails and coffee.

*The garden has never looked so good!

Graduation Celebration

Originally, before the Pandemic, we were scheduled to host family from around the country for Grace's graduation.  We were so disappointed that couldn't happen!  Though we couldn't have a large celebration for graduation, we couldn't let the day go by without gathering with our family that was here to celebrate.  We made every effort to make it special and I think Grace appreciated it and enjoyed her day!

Graduation was streamed at 9:30 in the morning so we gathered round the tv with coffee and doughnuts to watch.  Each family sent in a video of their graduate receiving their diplomas from parents or siblings.  While, of course, we would have rather been there in person to celebrate with friends, there was something to be said for sitting in air conditioned comfort drinking coffee while watching graduation!

 Everyone then stayed for the afternoon for lunch and dessert.  Finding a theme was easy of course and we went with her school colors of black, red and white.

My red and white peonies were set to blow out two weeks ago so I cut them while still in bud and kept them in the refrigerator (did you know you can do that?) until Friday evening.

I made little graduation tassels with embroidery thread for our napkins!

We ordered Grace's favorite sandwiches from the cafe she works at (of course, they are currently only open for take out and she hasn't worked in three months!).  I asked them to wrap them with chives to look like a diploma!  We also ordered her very favorite Chick-fll-A nuggets!

I made a pasta salad with alphabet pasta in homage to our annual back to school dinner of Alphabet Soup.  Using olives and tomatoes made it black and red themed.

Cokes also conveniently fit the color scheme!

I really loved the cake.  We made tuiles to go on top and tied them with sour candy belts to resemble diplomas!

And finally, Kathleen made Grace these darling graduation cookies.  They are delicious and beautiful!

Graduation

Our girl graduated!  We celebrated with family and Grace's best friend and it was a good day.

Grace is Graduating

Grace graduates tomorrow. It will be virtual, and we won't have all the pomp and circumstance that seems fitting for ending a 13 year career in school, but that doesn't diminish how incredibly proud of her we are.  In fact, the way she has handled the loss of so many milestones this season has only made us prouder to call her our daughter.

Grace is graduating with honors, she's been inducted into the Cum Laude Society (her school does not have the National Honor Society but she is in the thespian and french honor societies), which means she's in the top of her class.  She's worked incredibly hard in high school and I'm thrilled for her that it's been recognized.

I've experienced so many emotions during this time; I've been angry, sad, incredulous, excited and proud... you name it,  I've felt it.  But, finally, I've come to understand that while this is not what I would have chosen, this is what will be a defining moment for the majority of teenagers around the world.  That's not something to take lightly.  That's powerful and I cannot wait to see what they do with it.  I hope that they are the impetus for sweeping change and they stand up for what is right and wrong, fight injustices, find cures and treatments for seemingly incurable illnesses, and put our environment back on track.  They are inheriting a heavy burden but I hope and pray that they are up to the task.  When I look at Grace, I see so much hope for the future.

P.S. Of course, we are celebrating! Pictures to come!