Graduation

I admit it, I've been scarce the last few weeks. Things have been hectic around here, and finally on Friday evening our daughter, Vicky, graduated from high school. It was more moving than I'd thought it would be, to see the kids all walk up to the front of the auditorium to receive their diplomas. There were 491 seniors graduating, so many that it took almost two hours to read their names, briskly, and get them all up to the podium to walk across the stage.

Now we will all relax for a week or so, then gird our loins to get her ready for college. She'll be going to USF, in Tampa, in the fall. We have new student orientation next month, decisions to make about dormitory or off-campus housing, meal plans and just how it's all going to work. I'm already starting to feel the pangs of empty nest syndrome. I can't imagine what it will be like to know she's not living in our house anymore.

Next year Geoffrey will be a senior and we'll get to go through this all over again. It's one of those bittersweet times in parenting.

While I've been distracted with graduation, I've sold lots and lots of soap and now I'm either low or completely out of some kinds. I'm going to be soaping like a maniac in the next week or so to catch up.