Graduation

It was October 31, 1990. I was home alone as my husband was flying and no one else lived with us at the time. The phone rang in the evening. It was my son from North Carolina to tell me that his wife was going into labor. Their baby wasn't due until the middle of February.

Every twenty minutes I’d hear from my son. “We’re on the way to Wilmington where they have a neonatal unit.” “They are not able to stop the labor.” And then, “I have a baby girl.” By now it was November 1, the same day as my husband's birthday.

My son said, "The first forty-eight hours are crucial."

Since then there have been many forty-eight hours, and last night this young lady who entered this world weighing in at only a pound and a half graduated from high school.

Whatever happens in our lives affects us as her early entry into the world has affected hers, giving her difficulty with vision that has affected other areas of her life, but last night no one would have known. She stood in her cap and gown with pride, an orange flower in one hand and an envelope containing her diploma and a little bell given to each of the graduates made by Cambodians from weapons of war.

She is an author in the Forever Friends anthology with a poem that speaks of friendship's other side. Since writing that poem, she has grown, learned about true friendship, and I sometimes think writing that poem acknowledged some deep feelings and by doing so helped her.

Writing can do that.

She is going to help me with some writing this summer before she goes to a small college in the fall.

I am very proud of this young lady.

Love, Carol

Carol,

I am so happy for you, your grandaughter and your son.

I bet she is Tom's favorite birthday gift.

Congratulations!

Alice, at the time it took me 18 hours to get in touch with him to tell him. He had flown to Munich and somehow my plea to the airline to have him call me as soon as possible was overlooked. I had only asked them for help twice in 30 years.

We always go out to dinner to celebrate the birthdays.

Yesterday we watched videos of her first months of life. She was the tiniest person housed in a little glass house on a soft fluffy cushion. I'll never forget the day her mother and I got to hold her, like holding a blanket.

Carol

Quote :

I am very proud of this young lady.

Love, Carol

She sound like a young lady to be very proud of. Send her congratulations on this milestone event.

Ann

And the class motto was:

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted.
John Lennon

Joy of joys. Coming into life with uncertainty and moving on to triumphs! Everyone must be overjoyed.

Carol,

I was delighted to add Megan's poem to the anthology. In light of all the threads about money, do you think that Megan would have received the same thrill from a monetary gift that she did from seeing her work in print?

Carol Troestler wrote:

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted.

I like that quote Carol! It reasured me i wasn't wasting far too much time on these internet forums..

Congrats to your granddaughter as well

Shelagh,

No. I know seeing herself in print meant much more to her than money would have. It was an exciting day for her when I showed her she was on amazon! A check would not have meant nearly as much.

Carol