Parents of the HS Class of 2009 (Part 1)

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
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<p>Sorry about the toe CBB! I am still struggling with my broken little toe months later! I have had to buy shoes a half size bigger to be able to walk without pain.Good Luck! We are also heading to the lake this weekend but the boat won’t be out for at least a month, probably more.</p>

<p>D2 had a shower this weekend hosted by future in-law family. It was very nice. The decorations and flowers were lovely and the guests so very nice. D2 felt very comfortable so it was very enjoyable.</p>

<p>D1 got a promotion at her temp job! She is thrilled with the added responsibility and extra salary. Another employee is leaving and D1 will be training to take over her position with the idea that she will take over the job permanently. Keep your fingers crossed!</p>

<p>The snow is melting here and we are supposed to have our first 70 degree day this week before it drops again. Can hardly wait to get some warmth.</p>

<p>Missing everyone who hasn’t checked in lately! Hoping all is well with oregon and dte!</p>

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<p>CBB, so sorry!</p>

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Last week I flat out told Son that he needs to start saving his money for an engagement ring.</p>

<p>Younger D felt ill so I took her to the doctor right away - upper respiratory infection - he prescribed a z pack, plus those steroids where you take 6 the first day, 5 the next, and so forth. She said it took her the entire school day to figure out that she had “'roid rage.” She said she wrote a poem while in English class about how obnoxiously the kids in the classroom next door were laughing. She got angry and walked out of Jazz Choir class. Hope she tells her teachers what’s up before she gets suspended or something. LOL.</p>

<p>Re the Oscar Pistorious trial - Does it drive anyone crazy that South Africa doesn’t have lesser offenses - no voluntary manslaughter or anything?</p>

<p>Thursday I leave for NYC to chaperone my last ever (!) school trip. Younger D has decided this should be a bonding experience with me. Did I tell you that the buddy with whom she was going to room/hang out didn’t make grades so can’t go on the trip? My chaperone group is her and a bunch of freshman. </p>

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Oh man, I SO didn’t want to read that! I haven’t gotten back into all my shoes after the broken metatarsal. Maybe I can make do with the couple pairs I can fit into until flip-flop weather arrives. The doc said all the swelling should eventually go away …</p>

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<p>“eventually”? Not all that helpful…</p>

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<p>missy…still waiting to hear about the highlights of your Croatia trip!</p>

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<p>Croatia sounds great, but it was Budapest. Thanks for the reminder. I’ve been so exhausted that I haven’t done much since the trip but whine.</p>

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<p>I am getting forgetful in my old age…or brain starved from lack of calories as I diet in earnest!</p>

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<p>Hi all. Crazy busy, but I should be able to catch my breath by the weekend. I hope.</p>

<p>Sorry about the toe, CBB. Glad you’re feeling better, MP. </p>

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<p>Good news bad news… good news is I easily caught up, bad news is our group has grown smaller. and I miss some folks. BUT! I am so glad for those of you still here, and a little hopeful that there are still a few who follow along even if they don’t feel comfortable sharing. I’ve seen no backlash from the new format and honestly? Now that the option is to just click on the forums I am involved in, I don’t see anything else new or otherwise. Honestly, I will be surpised if this new format wouldn’t slow down posting on the forum as a whole. You have to look a lot harder to just see topics of interest. </p>

<p>Wedding updates NMN - what are the colors again? When’s the date? Weddings… so glad don’t have one this summer, but oh I I need a good party. And congrats to D1!!! Gotta love a good midwestern work ethic. (That’s what they apparently say to my SIL all the time out in SF).</p>

<p>OUCH about toe… months? Mine still can bug me.</p>

<p>OK… forewarned… it’s likely to be a long one.</p>

<p>Got back last night from my Mom’s funeral. It was a tough week… emotionally obviously, but I’m glad to report we siblings rose to the occasion and left on excellent terms. Mom would be so proud. We all spoke at the funeral. I went first since mine was about Mom asking me to make the slideshow and wanting to see it first to give pre-approval. I got an appropriate chuckle and of course, then I said how humbled I was by laying it out to see 75 years of a life and how honored I had been to show her how proud she should be of the life and legacy she would too soon leave behind. It took me a long time to write it but mostly because I wanted everything I said to be genuine and sincere. She was not Dr. Phil’s soft place to land… and when it came to my mom, you always knew where you stood and could always count on her to “Let me tell you something…” S spoke on behalf of the grandchildren, and upon mention “grammy” my nephew fell apart, which startled S and had him lose his train of thought…and while all of us had speeches written, S spoke “off the cuff” and so there was definitely a moment in there when I thought I was going to have to get the hook! </p>

<p>But following the service several in the congregation said it was the largest funeral they’d ever attended in all their years of where Mom lived. My mom was a fabulous quilter and we all brought the quilts mom had made for us and the kids brought their bubbies (blankets) and quilts made for college graduations. And I knew D2 had her quilt at school (as they all did), but when I couldn’t find her bubbie she said… oh still sleep with it. Yes, that set me off.</p>

<p>The thing we all anticipated was going to be the hardest, however, went better than any of us expected. The jewelry. Long story short, it was surprising to all of us that thinking we’d all have the same favorites ended up not really being the case at all! And I was surprised and pleased when it was decided I should have my Great grandmother’s diamond earrings which are actually not for pierced ears and screw to your ear. I will have them converted, but after I cleaned them last night, I noted they are the most refractively gorgeous diamonds I’ve ever seen. Are old diamonds somehow more “something” than newer ones? There is no doubt they are real, but are almost prism-like in their sparkle. </p>

<p>But I will be honest to say… it wasn’t the things given of “value” that have the most meaning… she had a small collection of thimbles and I took three of those, and I found a picture of her at about 12 that looks exceedingly like me and somehow missed for the slideshow. My sister promised me the original but took all of the ones we found to scan. </p>

<p>We all had flights out around 5:30 last night… in a very small airport… when we hugged before going right or left for our gates, my oldest sister said… “We’re orphans!” And we all BURST into tears and had a massive group hug. I think that entire airport knew our mother had died between our bags being overweight, setting off alarms in security (I was asked - do you have rocks in your purse? -which I did in the form of a glass paperweight my Mom had on her desk.) and the group hug. The only downside was the flight attending on my flight from Charlotte back north. She was unrelenting: It started with her running into my shoulder with the beverage cart - no forewarning or even an excuse me! She bent over to pick stuff up (lint?) every time she walked by and literally hip checking me every other time she passed. Even the girls next to me agreed when I asked, is it me or is she being purposely mean to me? </p>

<p>Getting ready to land, she said I needed to put my laptop away which was just sitting on my lap and so when I went to put it in my bag under the seat in front of me, she noted my actual purse was under my seat behind my feet. There was an actual wall behind my seat and she went off about the safety and stowing properly. I.LOST.IT. No, I didn’t swear, which was shocking even to me… but I did literally shriek… what is your problem?!? I’ve done absolutely nothing to you. Then she said something about too much carry one and I said, my mother died. Everyone has been so kind and then there’s been you. She then CONTINUED about stowing… but here’s the thing, I put my purse behind my feet ALOT! This purse just “fits” right there. So I didn’t even realize this was EVER an issue! (and I texted my sister who is seriously a world traveler and she was completely confused that I would get yelled at). She was to wanting to engage in exchange for some reason… I had to ask her louder and louder - to please go away like five times. I seriously wanted to write a letter to the airline, but was just happy she wasn’t at the front of the plane when we disembarked. When I apologized for being out of line to the girls sitting next to me (girls - they were 30), they both interjected that I had had very good reason… so at least I had that going for me! I am not exaggerating that this began from the moment I sat down to the end of a three hour flight… </p>

<p>Dentist this morning… need a retreatment on a crown/previous root canal. Good news is that at this point it doesn’t look to be a root fracture. So it will only be hundreds vs thousands. :frowning: But oh! My mom had a 24kt gold plate for her back upper teeth (yes, our entire family has teeth of clay) - and she always said it was the most expensive “jewel” she owned. They forgot to remove it. I got a small little pouch of her ashes to take to the lake this summer… and I fully expect it to have gold flecks! :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Complicated relationship - but I can’t believe she’s gone and how much I miss her especially because now I have to find a house! </p>

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<p>Moda, thanks so much for the report!</p>

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<p>How sweet! That probably choked up most of us! </p>

<p>So sorry about the ghastly flight attendant. You deserved TLC and received the opposite.</p>

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<p>Yes, Moda, thanks for checking in and so glad to learn you left on excellent terms with your siblings. Sorry about the flight. Sounds awful.</p>

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<p>Sorry about bruised toes. And especially about your Mom and the evil FA, Moda. Glad though the division of assets left thing positive and not negative between the family.</p>

<p>MP, funny about the trip to NY. I hope your D enjoys it. Are both D and S settled as to where they are going next year?</p>

<p>ShawSon came in to town for a party in honor of admitted candidates to business school. He stayed the night with us before heading back. He said that they were all, except for him, super social and reminded him of a handsome, genuine very nice kid from HS who was the captain of the state champion soccer team and a very good but not outstanding student who went to one of HYP. Always nice to be around but not a friend. ShawSon was easily the youngest and the only tech guy – they were from the usual suspect management consulting firms and private equity for the most part but there were two or three folks in medical school who were going to attend B school after three years of med school but before the last year and residency. There is a big need for doctors to understand management but these guys seemed to be going to practice medicine, which confused both ShawSon and me. Interestingly, out of 15 kids, he said two were taller than he was and one was his height. He is not usually in rooms with people taller than he is. But, if they are choosing folks who look like leaders, height matters. </p>

<p>Oh, and the current GF might come to stay with us this weekend. We’ve never met her.</p>

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<p>I myself am frequently in rooms with people taller than me-husband and kids 6’5-6’7 and BIL and nephew 6’10-6’'11 so I am used to it! </p>

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<p>Thank you, Moda, for the long and descriptive update about your mom’s service. </p>

<p>shawbridge, I’ll assume shawson hasn’t talked to the GF yet about the upcoming move?</p>

<p>D got back from Chicago on Monday night. She thought the interview went well, but was informed through the staffing agency that although they were very impressed by her, they thought she’d do better at a larger company. Not sure what that means, exactly? I’d like to put a positive spin on it, and perhaps it means they’re afraid she’d be bored and not challenged there.</p>

<p>She’s heading back next Monday - Wednesday for another interview, this one (finally!) a second interview with the parent company of the place she’s currently working. This is the position she REALLY wants, so I hope her prior interviews were good practice.</p>

<p>Not much else going on. Busy at work, as usual. Today’s weather was absolutely gorgeous; managed to take a nice long walk at lunch and another one this evening. </p>

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<p>college_query-Good luck to your D. It is frustrating when you don’t get much feedback . S1 got through the third round of interviews with a major company (they flew him to NY for a marathon interview with 5 different people.) He did not get an offer and the only feedback he could get was that all 5 had to agree, needed a consensus (and obviously they didn’t). He’s fine. It was a longshot as it is very hard to get an offer from this company. His only frustration seems to be that they came after him . He has a job he’s still okay with and has an interview later this month with another company (they approached him as well ) but that one is still in the DC area. He is good where he is so won’t move to another company unless it is a really good opportunity.</p>

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<p>Moda, thanks for the report on your mom’s service and especially of your sibling’s relationships together. My folks both turned 85 this year; and I just can’t imagine them not being around and wonder what will happen to us all when the “glue” that holds us together still is gone. It’s hard to imagine.</p>

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<p>cq, I don’t know. He hinted to ShawWife that they’d communicated and that all was OK, but he was a little cryptic. I haven’t heard any more. I meant to ask him what GF’s plans for next year were.</p>

<p>Best of luck to your daughter. I have found in my small company that I need employees, especially at the lower level, who will not say, “That’s not my job.” I’ve found big company employees are often unable to realize that they have to be cook, dishwasher and garbage taker-outer. But, my guess is that your daughter is a team player who will roll up her sleeves and do whatever needs to be done. If so, your interpretation is likely correct. Maybe they don’t see a quick enough growth path for her. Best of luck to her in finally nailing down a good job.</p>

<p>sevmom, at 6’4", ShawSon finds it unusual to have one person in a room who is taller (but not unsurprising) but very surprising to have two or three who are taller. Your kids and H must rarely experience that expect when visiting your BIL/nephew.</p>

<p>On my wife’s side, she and her siblings are really close. They will remain close after her mother passes away – but her mother in her 80s is in terrific shape after having that horrific car accident last summer. Quite amazing. These days, older sister and ShawWife talk more than once a day and younger sister and ShawWife talk about once a day. The brother maybe once a month or once a quarter. On my side, I’m not so close to my siblings, but I suspect that my sisters are closer. My mother is turning 90 next month and is in excellent shape – works out at the gym 3-5 days a week – and has all her intellectual faculties intact. She’s more anxious than she used to be, however. But, she’s still taking the train to NY and Washington as well as flying on her own. She drives, but not at night. She’s still on some boards of charitable things, I think. Every few years, she gets honored and we have to go (nice) and contribute money to the honoring organization (oh well). But, I don’t know how centripetal force would affect things in her absence.</p>

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<p>Interesting about the med school guys, Shaw. But S has been talking to a lot of docs lately in his job and it seems to be very highly recommended (and useful) that docs understand the business side of anything. A lot of docs tell him that if he has to pay for med school, to not go (and is why they are in the business side). But it must mean something that he still wants to be a doctor. He’s working on essays - I think he is now on draft number 5 and still no clear cut winner for the actual application. But he did have a nice dinner with a doc highly connected to one of his top pics, so he’s clearly recognizing the value of networking!! </p>

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<p>Just a quick check in to send Moda hugs and CQ’s d some job mojo. Brutally long day ahead so I’ll save up for a post when I come out the other side ;)</p>

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<p>Every once in a while I have the experience of being taller than another adult! When we were doing software training a few weeks back, they paired those of us who attended the first round of training in a different area with a newbie who was only attending the second round. At first I was assigned to a guy who is 6’8"; then before the training started they changed my assignment and I was paired with his colleague who is under 5’. </p>

<p>I hadn’t thought of that interpretation, shawbridge, regarding a “larger company” being a better fit. At the huge corporation she’s at now, she makes coffee multiple times a day (it always needs to be hot and fresh!), cleans out the refrigerator, cleans the office space, and all sorts of other things her $$$ education probably didn’t train her for. She likes to keep busy, and she’s had days where her only regular duties were waiting for the phone to ring so she could answer it. Her mantra has been “they’re paying me to sit here” and fortunately they are fine with her reading books at her desk when she’s not busy. </p>

<p>One of the staffing agencies she’s working with started to set up an interview for her, and then called her back and cancelled the interview, because they noticed in the paperwork she had filled out with the staffing agency she had indicated she ‘might’ want to attend graduate school in the next 5 years. She hasn’t actually applied to a graduate school, although she did take the GRE last year, and right now she doesn’t even know what kind of program she’s even apply to. But evidently thinking she ‘might’ attend graduate school was enough to disqualify her from the interview for a position as an administrative assistant, because they wanted a long term commitment. </p>