Parents of the HS Class of 2009 (Part 1)

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
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<p>DTE - What horrific news. Honestly, it never fails to scare the crap out of me when I read this stuff.</p>

<p>Oregon - Congrats to your D! How awesome is that?? I love that she blogs and the rest. I bet her essays and secondaries were awesome though! :slight_smile: Good Luck to your DIL as the cycle heats up. S got a second II on Friday and that it was to a top choice and just two weeks after sending in his secondary was very exciting. Unfortunately, however, his missing LORs weren’t from one writer, but the entire committee letter! All of the actual LOR’s were submitted by February, which is what had me most frustrated at the time. I have to admit, however, that having two interviews has lessened the stress on me considerably as it pertains to my raising the roof. He “only” completed applications to 14 schools in total. Eleven more to hear from! </p>

<p>The weather has been so weird of late… cloudy and cool and then warming and blue skies late in afternoon and cooling off considerably as soon as the sun sets. Leaves one about an hour a day to enjoy being outside. I’ve been so busy that I’ve barely had time to notice!</p>

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<p>Quick note as we leave for our Chicago/ visit my aunt trip in rural Ind, in just a few hours. I just gave up on the idea of sleeping.
Mod–SO happy for your S. I feel anxious now for yours and mine and, now again for D as she is thinking Derm, which has a 3% acceptance into residency. Gads. Will we live through this!
DIL also completed 14 applications. After sniffing around a the internet I think her list is hopeful but not unrealistic. </p>

<p>dte and NM–my thoughts are with both of you and then I realize that my worries about our S and D medical wants are not so big after all.
My BGF ever in my entire life will be moving from OR.to Colorado in the next few months. I am trying to prepare emotionally but really–a death, a move, the kids that go back and forth from us–it is a little heartbreaking each and every time. But that is what we do! </p>

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<p>I’m so sorry to hear of your losses, dte. Very sad.</p>

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<p>Oh, dte! So very sorry! :frowning: So much sadness lately. </p>

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<p>Huge, DTE. You too, NM.</p>

<p>In other news…
So, I find it rather inauspicious that the following have happened in California since my friend’s plane has touched down in San Diego, then to monterey…: historic hurricane to baja, earthquake to northern baja, wildfires in both southern AND northern Cali, and small earthquakes north of SF.</p>

<p>We teased this woman that she single-handedly destroyed Cinque Terre (a resort community in Italy) when her visit there coincided with a mudslide and coast-guard rescue for which she shot footage that moved in North American news.</p>

<p>As a former journalist, she wants to get into travel writing. I think her MOJO is entirely for spot/disaster news, and she should quit spilling her mojo wherever we go to vacation! ;)</p>

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<p>Hugs to both DTE and NM. Nothing that I can say. :(</p>

<p>Nothing much going on in my neck of the woods. I have kept to not putting in as much overtime and my life is actually better. I think not having to deal with my boss as much is liberating and when he does ask me a question I just try to answer as quickly as I can. The less interaction with him the better! I’m also getting back to the gym which may be helping my frame of mind also. :)</p>

<p>Currently planning DILs baby shower and knitting a blanket. H is building a cradle also.</p>

<p>D seems to be settling in nicely in her house. S and DIL are busy saving up so that soon after the baby is born they too can purchase a house.</p>

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<p>I’ll catch up a bit later, but today on NPR:</p>

<p><a href=“First Listen: Leonard Cohen, 'Popular Problems' : NPR”>First Listen: Leonard Cohen, 'Popular Problems' : NPR;

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<p>Oregon, many congrats on your D’s article. It’s hard for me to believe that some folks are blessed with both the verbal brain and the math brain…May she use her powers only for good!</p>

<p>So sorry that your friend is moving away.</p>

<p>DTE, how terrible about both accidents. </p>

<p>NM, hugs to you.</p>

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<p>Very sorry to hear as well, DTE. </p>

<p>We went yesterday to the unveiling of the gravestone of a friend in town who died at age 61. The event started me thinking. Do I want to get buried? ShawWife and I have each been to our respective fathers’ grave sites three times in the over ten years since they died. What’s the point of being buried?</p>

<p>The rabbi talked generally about what our friend brought to the world. On reflection, he was both a curmudgeon with very particular passions and a warm, inquisitive guy who was always trying to learn. Both parts were actually delightful. For the last few years, in my annual strategic-planning-for-life retreat with my friend, we’ve been thinking about our legacies. Though that’s big think (books, pro bono projects, how we influence the world). I was thrilled when my son told me on my birthday (or Father’s Day) that he tells his friends that I am the best father in the world and describes a number of things I’ve done to explain why. So, unless I screw up, I think what I leave my kids will be good. But, at the ceremony, I started thinking of what I would have to tell the kids to do in case I die before ShawWife. There is a lot of scaffolding and organization that I provide, much of which she doesn’t see. The kids could help with that (plus I have a team of people that are in place). What would she tell the kids in case she dies before me? She provides is a lot of warmth, fun, love, continuity and functioning of day-to-day life. But, I’m not sure my kids could provide a whole lot of that (maybe some if we follow ShawD’s plan to have us help her buy a two-family house where we’d live downstairs). </p>

<p>I was talking with a very thoughtful colleague at a dinner afterwards about the changing medical profession. The skills are going to shift over time from what is required now. Doctors’ salaries have been dropping or not increasing because we are empowering physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners (and others) to perform tasks that MDs once did but that do not require the breadth of knowledge an MD has. Over time, he believes, we will develop data bases that compile best practices (and combine with interactions, etc.). [Humans, he says are bad repositories of “If then” rules. Computers are better.] So, diagnostic skills – asking the right questions and getting people to talk – will really matter as the front end to the diagnostic data base, but that work will largely go to the NPs and PAs. Ther eis a fair bit of evidence that doctors tend to be pretty poor at this because they anchor (within about 8 seconds, IIRC) on the diagnosis and then don’t really get people to provide them the information they need to make a good diagnosis. After diagnosis, specific skills like surgery will matter. But an awful lot of the intuition will go away because of the data bases that will shore up what docs currently do. If so, we will need many fewer docs. But, another guy I was talking to, a neurologist at one of Harvard’s teaching hospitals, told me that there was still a shortage of doctors. I’m not sure I understand how.</p>

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<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>First, condolences to NM and DTE. And congrats to Oregon’s daughter; nice to hear.</p>

<p>We are wilting in the heat out here, 3rd day over 100 and not cooling off at night very much … pretty dreadful . . .</p>

<p>H and I have been back a week from our trip to Switzerland (business, but pleasurable!) and Italy (pleasure), where we did some “hut hopping” in the Dolomites (northern Italy, where they speak German, which works for me). “Huts” is a misnomer if ever there was one: these places serve a variety of delicious hot cooked meals, desserts, cappuccino. Weather wasn’t very cooperative, but we really enjoyed the green meadows, flowers, etc. Italy is a lot cheaper than Switzerland, which is one reason we did our vacationing there.</p>

<p>D2 has moved into her apartment, has discovered the local thrift shops, and is getting things set up; her school (like ShawSon’s) is on the quarter system, so orientation is next week, then classes start after that. Since she’s been away/out of state for 5 years, it’s nice to have her local. We’ve tried to be non-interfering, but she did come up for supper last night and stayed a long time to talk about a book she and H had just read; she acknowledged how much she is enjoying being nearer to us and back in the area. </p>

<p>Part of that may have to do with the fact that she’s back to doing aerial silks intensely at 2 different studios since she got home; I assume she’ll have to cut back once her term starts. It’s a tremendously good physical work out. She was sick rather a lot in Germany (several different viral infections, including mono); unusual for her; and now she looks and feels great. Good to see.</p>

<p>I thought of you, NM, because she has made 3 scrapbooks (combination journal & memorabilia) of her time and travels; what a lot of work!</p>

<p>D1 is really not enjoying her grad program; is taking a year off; and teaching part time at a local middle school. We hope that the hiatus will help her determine whether she wants to finish the degree or take a terminal master’s and head in another direction. I suspect that’s what she’ll do – but we mainly watch from a distance.</p>

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<p>Welcome back, Zetesis. </p>

<p>And there really aren’t words, DTE. I’m so sorry. </p>

<p>Shawbridge – way back in the 70’s there was an artificial intelligence program at Stanford called Mycin that did a better job in prescribing antibiotics than doctors did, though it was not used clinically. I’d be surprised if there aren’t much better tools available now, but I suspect that between legal liability issues and the general reluctance of doctors to use tools of that sort that it is not likely to become really prevalent anytime soon. I’d like to be wrong. </p>

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<p>Good to hear from you, Z. So great that your D is able to get back to aerial silks!</p>

<p>Did any of you watch Dancing with the Stars last night? I know that Betsey Johnson’s dance was sort of a fiasco at the end, but she is in such great shape for 72…actually for 52. So small and nimble.</p>

<p>Shawbridge, the only doctor I see that I would consider an excellent diagnostician is my allergist. I wish she could be my PCP.</p>

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<p>Wow, everyone must be really busy!</p>

<p>Here’s a kid probem you don’t hear every day. I was talking to a dad who went through a very ugly divorce a about 7 years back; he and his ex are still prety ugly to each other. Anyway, over the summer, his middle school-aged (dark haired) daughter stopped shaving her legs and everywhere else. Over the summer they had a real stand off. He said he wouldn’t take her to the public pool unless she shaved her legs, underarms and bikini line. Now swimming pool weather has passed, but it’s still an issue between them. I don’t think that is the hill I’d choose to die on, but I am interested in your thoughts. </p>

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<p>It seems to be a pretty odd thing for a dad to get so involved in to me. </p>

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<p>I agree sevmom, very odd. But the dynamic is if Dad says black, Mom says white, because she hates him. She thinks nothing of putting the kids in the middle. So while Mom might normally handle the situation, she enjoys putting her ex in a bad situation.</p>

<p>But even if it was my daughter, I don’t know if I would absolutely put my foot down on the issue.</p>

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<p>If it were me I would just let it go. So she doesn’t shave. Big deal. Not like she is into drugs or drinking or sleeping around. I learned way early to pick my battles and this isn’t one that would even hit me as one to pick. Her friends will probably pick it and then she can argue with them. Peer pressure is always better than what parents say. :)</p>

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<p>Younger D just called after her first ever college test. She (and 2 others) had taken the test in the testing center (due to ADD). She said that when she finished, looked at the second page, and there were the answers. She was mostly freaked out because she had compared them and had gotten them all right except for one where she was sure SHE was right and the answer key was wrong. (That is so ME.) (She didn’t change her answser.) I told her to go back and tell the testing center folks what happened and be prepared to re-take the test later. She went back and they thanked her for doing that.</p>

<p>I assume the teacher emailed the test in a pdf file, not remembering that the key was included and a testing center person just printed it out as is without looking.</p>

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<p>Kudos to oregonD on her publication!</p>

<p>So sorry to hear about the accidents, dte. I worry about D & S constantly – even though D doesn’t currently have a car. (She uses ZipCar when she needs one.) I guess I worry more about S, though, considering how much he seems to be “on the road.” </p>

<p>Condolences on the loss of your friend, NM. These are tough times, indeed.</p>

<p>shaw – every once in a while I think about the whole “legacy” thing, but end up doing a “Scarlett O’Hara” instead; “I’ll think about that tomorrow.” I know H has done much more, at least tin terms of financial planning. As for where we would be buried – we’ve moved around some, but the beach house has remained a constant, and will (hopefully) stay in the family, so I guess it would be here. The whole burial thing is more important to H; I’m ambivalent. </p>

<p>mp - agree with others that shaving (or not) is a somewhat odd issue for that Dad to get into with his D. As RM said, peer pressure usually works much better/faster than anything else. And good for your D that she told the testing people what happened. </p>

<p>The other day I played golf with my father and brother in my hometown in MA. A beautiful early fall day! My father and I played 18 holes; my brother had to bail out after 14 since he coaches a middle school soccer team. I may try to get back up there one more time this season. H thinks it’s a long way to go to play golf, which it is, but honestly – my Dad is 86, and as we all know, things can change in a flash.</p>

<p>S is currently on an AF recruiting trip in TX. He’s due back this weekend, I think. Next he’s off to a base in FL for some sort of additional training. I certainly hope Obama keeps his word about not sending ground troops “over there,” and also hope S isn’t snagged to go build hospitals in Africa. Yes, I know I’m being 100% selfish here, but as a mother, it’s how I feel.</p>

<p>Happy weekend to all.</p>

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<p>CBB, good to hear from you. And I’m with you on your hopes/wishes for your son’s safety!</p>

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<p>Hi All! Am still away with spotty internet service. </p>

<p>Z…welcome back! I want to visit Italy ! Just haven’t gotten around to it yet. Glad your D is settling in and has found a place to practice her aerial silks! I think that is so awesome. I just got the DVDs from D2’s wedding so have been uploading them to my computer. I leave for my annual scrapbook retreat on Thursday so I will work on wedding albums
at that time. I prefer to do traditional scrapbooking but with all of the big scrapbook companies closing it is hard to find supplies. I am just finishing my London/Paris book and I am doing it digitally because I have so many pictures. I seem to have lost my scrapping mojo this past year and hope to get re-energized from the retreat.</p>

<p>missy…I will probably be the only one here that agrees with the dad about shaving. After working with middle school kids I know how cruel they can be. I am hoping the dad is trying to protect her from bullying. </p>