Here are pictures of my kids. The first is of my oldest son Tommy, newly graduated from college, and my 'baby', Kendall. The next is of Tommy, his best friend, and my younger son, Daniel (in the middle, appropriately since he is the middle child.) Daniel just finished his first year of college. And today is my daughter Kendall's last day of 11th grade. Since she is my baby, it is my very last day of 11th grade, as well. Summer starts today.
I remember how I used to feel on the last day of school - ecstatic! Free! Hours, days, weeks of unstructured time stretched to the horizon ahead of us. I loved it when I was a kid, and I loved it when my kids were kids. We had so much fun - going to the beach, to museums on their 'free days', to the zoo. We swam, read tons of books, watched movies, played games.
But as I think ahead to this summer, I realize every day is already filled. Those free summer days are gone. I can look forward to two heavenly weeks traveling to and from Montana, and celebrating my husband's brother's birthday while we are there, but the rest of the summer looks like this: getting up at the crack of dawn to teach Kendall to drive, shuttling her to and from her job, and going to my job. Household chores and errands will fill in any cracks.
But I refuse to lose hope. I will do my best to accomplish the following goals....
1. Finish my children's book and begin the process of finding an agent.
2. Write here.
3. Continue learning to play the drums, or at least play around with them.
4. Learn more about photography.
5. Transfer our old family VHS tapes into DVDs (I bought a burner for this purpose...)
6. Get all of my loose photos into albums.
7. Visit my mom and dad.
8. Read!!!
9. Spend fun time with my kids (Daniel's introducing me to South Park right now - I know, I'm behind the times, but I wouldn't have watched it with him when he was younger, anyway.
I think that's enough. Wish me luck!