Time Flies
My son Hank graduates high school on Wednesday. I’m so proud of him. He reads a stack of books every week. He’s hilarious and brilliant. He’s upbeat despite being a realist with a pretty sophisticated understanding of our current political and climate situation. He has overcome a lot to be able to show up in the world the way he does and he has done it in his own way, on his own motor.
Nothing is more relative than time, and lately it seems to be moving much faster. I am flying through it, somewhere between my forties and a dissipating cloud.
Here’s a poem I wrote when Hank was seven. It’s also just a verbatim transcript of our conversation. Lots of them read like poetry back then.
Time flies, everyone. Raise a glass to my amazing son. If you have a kid who is graduating, mazel tov! I’m raising a glass to you too.
<3 Congratulations Graduate Hank! Congratulations mama Carson (and the whole family). I love that he is both informed, a realist, and optimistic. My 21-year old described that state of being for himself as 'optimistic nihilism' ... the state of the world (especially, the US having elected this Administration) is bleak, but all we can do is try our best to make it a little better. Although he's an atheist, he chokes up when recalling how the previous Pope once said that he liked to imagine that 'Hell is empty.' <3 I'm hopeful for the future because of wonderful, unique, humorous, talented, kind, deep-feeling young people like your kids and mine, (my youngest son is also graduating high school this week - hip hip hoorah! He's kind, observant, funny and strong, definitely someone you'd want on your Apocalypse Team. LOL). These kids are facing so many challenges, but they amaze me. The young person at Kohl's customer service yesterday with her septum piercing and artfully dyed hair was also delightful, engaging, and did not take the opportunity to bad mouth her less helpful co-worker who had led me astray, explaining instead, 'She doesn't usually work back here. She's so sweet.' A friend recently said that she thought our job at this stage of parenting was to be their 'pit crew'... feed them snacks, fill up their tires, whatever they need to keep on trucking. I'm here for all of it. All of them.
Congratulations to you, Hank and Colin! I love that conversation and your beautiful drawings and paintings too. What a lovely way to celebrate his graduation! X