Graduation

“Try something new even if you might fail.  This is the time of your life to spread your wings.” 

That was the message shared by the valedictorian at Sophia’s graduation.  Words expected to resound with the six hundred and eighty or so students sitting six feet apart from each other in black caps and gowns.  They were words that resonated with me and perhaps many other parents whose life has changed with the graduation of their child.  As I sat in the Ranger’s baseball stadium, stories and dreams filled Globe Life Stadium was filled to capacity.  Every graduate had obstacles to overcome and difficult growing pains.  I though over Sophia’s life and the challenges of her teenaged years.  I couldn’t be more proud of the place she is in as she prepares to move to Macon, Georgia to attend Mercer University.  God has been so good and merciful to us and it’s in moments like these that I also give thanks to the multitude of prayers that supported us through these past eighteen years.  Sophia has so many people who love and support her and for that I am very grateful.

The school did a great job of making the ceremony into a respectful, important event even with the unwieldy numbers.  The graduates were spaced out, but the families were sitting knee to knee.  The traffic was crazy!  The family in front of us all wore T-shirts like brother of the graduate or aunt of the graduate. They cheered their hearts out when their graduate was called.  Sophia’s grandpa and his wife Jan, Sophia’s grandma, Mike, Esther and Joshua, Basil, Xenia and Justin and I cheered just as much!  Jonah was in Albuquerque, but he was with us in thought.

“Try something new.” That was also the theme of a weekly inspirational email that came to my inbox last week.  I feel like I’m always trying something new.  It’s true too.  There is value in attempting a new musical instrument or art medium.  Even though I’m not going to impress anyone with my talent, I appreciate music and art all the more for understanding it in a way that only comes with trying.

I went with Mike’s mom Coryn to “A Needle Art Love Festival” in the Fort Worth historic district on Saturday afternoon before Mike’s dad and Jan arrived.  My friend Mae invited me to come see her embroidery and that of our mutual friends.  That’s where I first saw my new obsession, Brazilian embroidery.  The rare and beautiful and complicated is so much more attractive than the ordinary.  I have never wanted to learn embroidery after one early attempt back in college, but these three-dimensional thread flowers were the most beautiful things I’ve seen in years.  Wouldn’t orthodox wedding crowns embroidered in flowers that will last for ages and ages be a treasure? There’s two years to make Esther and Joshua’s crowns. 

The artist who is also a teacher looked me up and down when I asked her where she held her classes.

“I teach at a couple of senior centers.  How old are you?”

Normally people tell me that my daughter looks like my sister or that I look like I’m in my thirties.  Never before had someone looked at me wondering how close to fifty I might be. 

She encouraged me to come to as many classes as I can over the summer, gave me her card and a list of senior centers and dates and times for her classes.  There was an insinuation that I could come and leave my age unsaid.  I felt like I was under twenty-one asking my friends to sneak me into The Keg in Albuquerque to go salsa dancing.  I’m no closer to finding a fake ID now than I was back in my college days.

I’ve called the senior centers and had to wait for a week for the managers to make a decision regarding me.  I wanted to learn Brazilian Embroidery while maintaining my integrity.  I don’t have many temptations to do something that I feel is wrong, so I’m making the most of this opportunity to accomplish my goals while still respecting the rules.  I happen to have multiple friends in their fifties that would come to class with me and bring me as a guest.  I’d also feel fine going with permission.  If all else fails perhaps the teacher can be convinced to teach another class for youngsters like myself.

It won’t be long till this summer is over and school starts up again.  Sophia will be off at Mercer University having her own trials and temptations.  I hope she will see my struggle to do what’s right in this little thing and that will inspire her to do what’s right in the big things.  Even when you are all grown up, there are times when you have to wait for things.  I didn’t sneak into the Keg before I was twenty-one though I tried.  They turned me away at the door after checking our ID’s.  This time around I refuse to try to sneak.  Dancing Salsa after I turned twenty-one was fun.  Many things in life are worth the wait.

Update:  One senior center said absolutely not.  After all, if they let one woman in her forties attend classes, they’d have to let all the forty-some-year-olds in.  The other said that if I drove my friend to the senior center, I would be considered an aide and would be allowed.  Also I hope to host a two day Brazilian embroidery class at my house the last week in July.  Details to be worked out.