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All my grandparents were college educated as were my parents so college was a big deal in our home. Which is why I went to college and graduate school after becoming a teenage Mom - I needed to do it for my own self-esteem. Conversely, current DH was the first in his family to go to college and none of his siblings did, nor did his former wife. But all 3 of his kids did plus graduate school. Yet none of his siblings children have gone to college. DH and I have talked about how parent's expectations can really make a difference.

Greetings all

Sunny and warm here. T shirt needed. Went to the eye surgeon for final follow up on the cataract surgery. All is fine. I got a new prescription for glasses as I need them to read and mid range but distance is good and I don't need glasses to drive. Amazing how it all works. The optician was good about explaining what each measurement was for - ie the prism for one lens and the astigmatism etc. A good morning. Stopped at the studio and picked up new stuff. On to the hippie grocery for a few things. There was a Cyber truck coming in as I prepared to leave. What an ugly machine! And, predictably, it parked in a hoggish manner taking up two spaces and sticking way out. Ugh.

So DD what a great graduation weekend! How wonderful that your DD has so many friends from all worlds and that you were able to attend and complete the circle. Love the part about first generation grads and that this was included in the ceremony. Good on that school. Yes, it does sound exhausting but the kind of effort one would do in a New York minute! Congrats to DD and you all. Wishing your aunt a safe surgery. When does DD start the new job - about the time you 86 yours!!

So Peps you have a little Bear!! Yay fun. I once had a "Tiger".

Ann, my parents were both college educated (and then some) so it was a big deal growing up in our house. Major crisis when little brother was threatening to not go. All ended well. My mother's parents were not educated but my dad's mother was the school marm so must have had some higher education and I think Dad's dad was sent to school in Germany or Switzerland. I was thinking about that today at the hippie grocery because it was packed with young people getting deli stuff for lunch and I am sure they are from the nearby university. What a different experience it must be to go to college today. I am grateful for my traditional dormitory cocooned experience where we could be out late at night and have no safety concerns.

Liz the nine and dine sounds like a fun thing. What if you want to skip the nine? No hot dogs, right?

Well Poppy must be feeling better because she is begging for my sandwich. So all is good.

Diane S

Weddings, graduations, and puppies! It doesn't get much better, does it?!

DD, your weekend sounds more exhausting than mine, that's for sure! Mine was just a lot of time spent in a plane and changing time zones and back in less than 48 hours. Who would have thought even 100 years ago that I could get on an airplane in California in the morning and have dinner in North Carolina and then be back in California the very next night?

I was up at 3 am Saturday morning and at the airport by 4:30 am. Had a grand total of 3 hours sleep. Luckily, I'm a plane sleeper. I slept on and off most of the two flights to North Carolina. Not so lucky yesterday on the way home. I was up by 6 am (eastern time) and didn't get to bed last night until 2 am (west coast time), so I was up 23 hours. YUCK! I had about 4 hours sleep last night. Along with my coffee, I took an old Vyvanse at 10 am to help me stay awake for the rest of the day.

Got a call from my dad's assisted living place Sunday morning. Dad was found wandering the halls in the middle of the night wanting to go for a walk outside. He had no idea what time it was or that it was the middle of the night. Night wandering is a new milestone. He (and I) approved the facility putting a security bracelet on him. If he uses an exit door an alarm will sound and identify him as the "escapee". Next stop is a memory care apartment. I am considering moving him to a board and care this summer that is smaller and at which he will receive more individualized attention.

So, the Grizzle Bear (Grizz, Grizzly, Bear... whatever people wish to call him... I think at home he will be Bear, but I will probably call him Grizzle Bear a lot of the time... cuz he's so damn cute!) traveled magnificently. He made not a peep while on the plane. He didn't mess his bag, but went pee when I took him to the animal relief room. My big dogs have had varied reactions to him. Lucky believes that I brought Bear as a special present just for him and LOVES him just a little too much. Dottie recognized him as a pup immediately, greeted him and silently informed him of her position in the household - the Queen, Alpha, She Who is Quietly in Charge - and he is 100% in love with her. Molly finds him fascinating. I think she is feeling maternal towards him. Blitz and Buster get what he is, but would rather he were somewhere else. Bug on the other hand is on high alert. She can't decide what to make of him. He's the size of a giant rat and moves very quickly. I'm worried that she sees him as prey. She is going to take some time to understand his place in the pecking order and that he is part of the pack.

Travel and being busy is always good for my weight. Back down to 202.2 this morning. So even though I got up to 206 last Friday, it came right back off. Now to get down into the 201s.... I spent the weekend with people who are also on tirzepatide. Was wonderful to be with people who understand. Food was still a major event, but there was no pushing of food and all the foods served were WL friendly. SCORE!

My grades are all done. I have 4 more days of classes after today along with 4 concerts this week. Then, voila! C'est finis! Next week is packing up two schools, turning in keys and computers, etc...

8 days... Seems unreal.

Thinking some more about if it were your last day of life... When I was almost 19, I lived the last day of my life in Brazil, a life that changed so much for me and brought me so much joy. 40 some years I still remember so many vivid details. My family offered a party and said I could invite anyone I wanted, but I only wanted them and the young man who I was in love with (a long story, this "romance" endured for awhile with him visiting me, and me returning to Brazil, and all I can say now is thank god for unanswered prayers. It ended 6 months before i met DH) I didn't want to entertain anyone else, or be distracted from my family. The song, In the Arms of the Angel she sings about glorious sadness, which seems like an oxymoron. But I get it. There was something about that moment of leaving them where I felt so aware of being alive as I struggled with waves of gratitude, joy, grief, sorrow.

Good morning! I am completely depleted but happy. We've been going 110 miles since we landed on Thursday. Made our first Costco run Thursday, then went to DDs apartment, back to the hotel at 10:00 pm. Friday graduation day, left the hotel at 7am, returned 10:30pm. Saturday, party day, left at 9am, back at 10:30pm. Sunday, left the hotel at 9:30, drove 2 hours to see my Aunt and Uncle in Amherst, drove back, dinner with Boston Mom and Dad, and back to the hotel at 10pm. Whew!

The graduation ceremony was surprisingly moving. They asked the 1st generation students to stand (1st in their family to attend college) and probably half the students stood. Amazing!!! So many joyous, proud families, many of them clearly immigrants, who sacrificed to give their children opportunities they didn't have.

The party Saturday was so fun, but tiring. DD found a cool venue in an old theater. I've joked I could cater my kid's weddings from Costco, but doing this party for around 70 people just about killed me. Everyone says they're going to help, but once the party begins, they become guests. It was amazing to see all the communities DD has, book club friends, friends from her very first job in Boston in 2015, from the job she just left, from her new job, from school, one friend she met when the 2 of them were attending theater solo whose whole family came, even her hair stylist. We finished the night on DDs deck eating leftover party food and taking shots with "the kids". Whew.

Yesterday we went to visit my Aunt and Uncle, and learned my dear Aunt has to have a complicated surgery. She has a very atypical hernia that will kill her if it is not repaired. It's scheduled for June 20. My Uncle's son will be with them for the surgery, and we offered to come for a few days when he leaves.

Today we are not leaving this hotel room until the last minute! Then we go to DDs apartment, and probably go bet some lunch, and then to the airport around 4. If all goes well, we will be back in Minnesota around 8:30 pm. Then back to work for 3 days. I already put in for a sick day on Friday, and now I am so happy I did. I'm looking forward to our quiet house and tea on my porch the upcoming weekend.

If I knew it was the last day of my life, I would choose to be with family, both birth and chosen, and I would meditate with gratitude about all the wonderful things big and small that made this journey so worth it. I'd like some sunshine too, like Liz.