Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 16:45:03 -0400
Subject: Weekend Update: May 9-12, 2002

Last Thursday, Joy headed in one direction and I in the other
as we parceled out teenagers and retrieved college students.
Emily and Andrew were going to separate concerts that night;
Emily to support her friends, and Andrew to play his trumpet
in the Jazz band.  My father-in-law accompanied me to Quincy
to pick up much of the contents of Jessica's room.  Old Lazarus
was also packed and included transcontinental baggage for
Brooke Pate, Jessica's friend, who was flying home to San Diego,
CA the next day.

The college campus was busy with the sort of activity that
goodbyes bring about; people wandering around with a
kind of dazed look, fixing the buildings and campus places
into their memories of the past year.  College seemed difficult;
it was difficult, but how can it be over already?  Brooke was
embraced by a gentleman friend and they lingered a bit.
Jessica was ready to leave, however. It dawned on me that
her gentleman friend had gone back to Virginia earlier in
the day so there was little to keep her. I bought Slurpees
for the girls and myself before getting on the highway back
to home.  I don't know about the girls, but it made me feel
better!  When we got home after dark, I left Jessica's stuff
in the van for Jessica to sort out the next day.

Our family dispersed once again on Friday.  This time on
separate shopping sprees.  Jessica and Emily went sister
shopping; a female bonding activity.  I took Joy and my
father-in-law to the Christmas Tree Shop; not a bonding
activity for me, mind you, but nevertheless an important
event for the wife.  She had been looking to update some
outdoor furniture and Christmas Tree Shops are among Joy's
favorite bargain haunts.  I was amenable to the trip to
Salem, NH because I was starting to get nervous about
the impending weekend, despite all of my diatribes about
the commercialization of Mother's Day and Wedding Anniversaries.
I took the opportunity to look for a token gift for Miranda's
graduation because even though you can splurge on a Christmas
gift, or go on a cruise, there is something inside a person
that wants to be recognized on the date of the occasion.
I held to my principles, however, by not buying greeting
cards for any of these occasions, but I did get the furniture
for Joy and the token gift (a few video tapes) for Miranda.
We even got a plant for my mother, which we left in the
van on Saturday without getting it to her!

We were relieved to hear the weather reports for Saturday, and
it proved to be just about a perfect day, if a bit breezy.  Joy
and I decided to rise early on Saturday to finish the last half of
ten yards of mulch she had ordered and had deposited in my parking
spot in the driveway.  We mulched everywhere we wanted to except
for the far back of the property. Joy noted for next time that
we would need 12 cubic yards to complete the job.  I noted for
next time that we would need a trailer to tow behind the lawn mower;
one wheel barrowful at a time takes too long.  In fact, I tied
large plastic sheets to the back of the mower and dragged loads
down to the back that way.  Andrew was only to happy to drive
the mower.  I sat down on the plastic to get a ride back up the
hill. I found the ground to be lumpy and the friction to be
warming my backside, but the plastic broke halfway up and that
ended my reverse sledding adventure.

We piled into the van at 11:30 and headed to Quincy. When we
arrived on campus, we espied several of our friends from church
and for a moment I had thought how thoughtful they were to come
and see Miranda graduate... until I remembered Kara White (the
Pastor's daughter), Tim Linton, and Chris Knepp, all of whom
were also picking up diplomas that day as well.  Emily's friend,
Liz Rand came along for the ride, perhaps less to see the four
who were graduating from our church and more to see one in whom
she has an interest.  We found my mom and dad.  They had selected
seats along the parade route to capture a glimpse of the
graduates as they filed by on their way to their seating.

I found Miranda before the proceedings began in the gymnasium.
She was bedecked in her black cap and gown with her grandmother's
necklace around her neck.  Miranda also had taped a small mortarboard
(square graduation cap) on her water bottle, which she carried with
her throughout the day. It had become so well associated with her
that she decided that it should accompany her all the way through the
ceremony.

When the conferring of the diplomas began, I sent Emily and Liz
to the van to pick up a bouquet of balloons that we bought
on the way to the college.  Eighteen years ago, my four-year-old
Miranda met me at the end of my graduate ramp with a bouquet
of red and white balloons, so I figured that it would be appropriate
to bring the ceremony full circle.  Several people were stationed
about for the photo opportunity; Wendy Gonzalez was in the best
position to record the "planetary alignment" so I hope her picture
turns out well.

When Commencement was concluded, order was abandoned and we
found a grassy spot to take pictures.  Miranda is beautiful,
and smart, and now graduated.  She is presently filling in as
permanent substitute teacher in the Quincy Public School System
while a teacher is out on maternity leave.  She has resumes out
to schools in the commutable communities surrounding Pepperell,
and will be sending out more.

The day left us famished.  I took the family out for Chinese
food and invited along some friends to celebrate with us.
Fourteen of us passed around a stockpile of appetizers.

In contrast to Saturday, Mother's Day started out gray and it
was raining substantially by midday.  What we take note of is
not rain on Mother's Day but the weather on May 5 and May 12
every year.  Better than three out of four May 12s have been
rainy since we got married on May 12, 1979; and most of May 5s
are sunny. Joy and I originally selected May 5 but had to move
our date out a week because my father-in-law informed us that
he was busy on May 5.  I haven't forgotten, and neither has my
father-in-law (because I won't let him forget).

Jessica made breakfast and dinner for Mom, with some help from
her sisters.  Emily made a decadent chocolate dessert.  I was
all set to sneak Joy out for a bite after the evening service,
but the day had ended and Mandy and Jessie were headed back to
Quincy for their jobs the next morning.  So we microwaved what
was left of the Chinese food and other leftovers, kicked off
our shoes, and relaxed. 

The rain is a mixed blessing today (Monday): Joy won't be
tempted to work outside, so she can concentrate on righting
the wrongs that the rest of the family has perpetuated on the
order of the home.  I am pleased at how things are shaping up,
and by Memorial Day we should have the Manor in ship shape
for the season.

One last note: Nashua's loss is my gain.  The Nashua church is
between pastors as of recently and my father has been asked to
fill in the interim position.  That means that Mom and Dad (and
their dog, Schatzi) will be visiting us every weekend until
Nashua finds a new pastor (starting May 26).  I will see how
often I can steal up north to hear him preach; always a treat
for me.

Mark
+---_-----------+ Mark Metcalfe, Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
| c a d e n c e | Manager, PCB Enterprise Publications (CAD)
+---------------+ metcalfe@cadence.com, Phone: (978) 446-6451