\n A graduation speaker* made it a point to explain to those of us sitting very awkwardly in the audience that there was no way of telling whether that day was a monumental one. A critical milestone we\u2019d look back at, pointing and telling someone, \u201cThat was the day that\u2026\u201d. It might be. It\u2019s certainly within the realm of reason. But he couldn\u2019t, wouldn\u2019t, repeat what so many before him had, that today was one of the most important days in our lives. He did say, unequivocally, that we would know what those actually important days were, and we would almost always know that ony in hindsight. His message to us was to \u201cbe present\u201d or \u201cbe in the moment\u201d, as the kids say*, and to also be ready to reflect, consider, and remember.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Saturday was one of those significant days for me. So was Sunday. And last Monday.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Man, it\u2019s been a week!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n OK, first up, our oldest son went back to college last Monday, after a month\u2019s break in between semesters. This is the second winter break he\u2019s enjoyed thus far during his college career. And he starts this semester truly living his best life*. He\u2019s taking interesting classes, one of which, fulfilling a graduation requirement I wish I had had, involves spending his Spring Break in England, touring English Premier League facilities, catching two (or is it three?) matches. For credit*. This break was its usual combination of holiday chaos, family gathering in upstate New York, sibling tussles, and laundry*. The quiet that settled on the house after his departure for campus was nearly a physical manifestation*, and it occurred to me that this was one of the last few times we\u2019ll enjoy this kind of break as the four of us. Monumental revelation? Perhaps not, but I\u2019ve come to the conclusion that this past winter break might have been one of those times I\u2019ll look back on as one of those times\u2026\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n And then there was Saturday. Our youngest son, a high school Junior her in The Pep, has been diligent in his driving practice sessions. And, despite getting a later start than certainly he wanted*, he\u2019s been attentive and enthusiastic about this learning experience. He approaches the world through his senses, and learns best by doing and repeating. He took my* correction very well as we went out driving around, and he applied the lessons and coaching immediately. You\u2019ve noted the past tense, have you? Yes. Well. Saturday, he aced his final behind-the-wheel session and is now a legal driver*. Which would be momentous enough, in of itself. But then: Sunday.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY!!! No, there was no tractor-pull in The Pep on Sunday*. But Young Master Sam felt free to just go ahead and drive himself to his afternoon swim practice.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n By himself.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n 45 minutes away\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Each way!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n By. Himself.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Look, those who know me know I get emotional at the drop of a hat, and not just<\/em> at those Budweiser Clydesdale tv ads, either. Disney movies. Horse races. The end of Rocky*. And I mean to tell you, Superman ain\u2019t got nuthin\u2019 on the strength of will I exerted watching him back out of the driveway, not shedding even a single tear.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n RRRRRrrrrrriiiiiiiiiigggggghhhhhhttttttt!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n So, look, it\u2019s been an interesting few days to reflect on. And here\u2019s my conclusion: the graduation speaker was right. There\u2019s no way to know now if these events are truly seminal for any of us involved in them. They certainly were felt, and they impacted me specifically in and after the moment. And I\u2019m making the effort to sift through my recent memories of these last few days, to think about those moments, and commit both the images and the feelings to long-term storage so I can continue to ruminate*. And when I\u2019m done with my rumination (and I hope to be done before it turns into hardcore navel gazing!), I plan to leave any minor regrets around these days and journeys out of my long-term memories, and carry instead the small moments that really matter along with me into the future*.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n * Please don\u2019t ask me to remember which one. I killed those memory brain cells decades ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n * No kids say that. Ever. Middle aged white men say that, in futile attempts to be funny and relevant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n * Yes, I am the master of the cliched, the trite, and the overused. It\u2019s a living. <\/p>\n\n\n\n * I\u2019m not sure that youth is wasted on the young, but I\u2019m pretty sure I wasted college! <\/p>\n\n\n\n * Seriously. The poor washing machine! <\/p>\n\n\n\n * Yes, I understand that sound is, in fact, a physical manifestation, as is its absence. And last Monday\u2019s silence had weight<\/em><\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n * Look, it\u2019s no one\u2019s fault. Between several overlapping soccer and swim seasons, and full-time parental gigs, it took us for-ev-er to set up his Learner\u2019s Permit test. Which he aced, natch! <\/p>\n\n\n\n * Gentle, I hope! Though I suspect not so much. Sigh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n * There is an insurance executive enjoying the large boat I\u2019ve now made his down payment on, he\u2019s welcome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But it\u2019s coming up, don\u2019t you worry! <\/p>\n\n\n\n * Ok, all the Rocky\u2019s, I \u2013 IV. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \n With a nice strong Nespresso \u201cRoma\u201d americano. Because that\u2019s my go-to for rumination time!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Holy crow, does THAT ever sound hyperbolic! My bad!\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A graduation speaker* made it a point to explain to those of us sitting very awkwardly in the audience that there was no way of telling whether that day was a monumental one. 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