Subject: Weekend Update: June 20-23, 2002
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Many years ago, I led a church group of 6th-to-8th graders; an
age of dramatic change in the life of a young person.  Attending
Andrew's graduation from middle school underscored the variety
of differences at this age.  My son has sprouted and may overtake
me soon as the tallest member of our family.  One of his good
friends at school (same age) is still physically more boy than
man.  Girls ran the spectrum, too, from string bean poles to
nubile young ladies.  All were dressed to the nines in ties and
formal wear (there was a dance afterward for the class of 2002).
Reluctant as I admittedly was about going to school for a ceremony
that meant little to me, it was an important rite of passage for
my son and his friends, and therefore became important for mom and
dad to be there.  I have learned that societies need rites of
passage or a generation can become disconnected with its society.
Even though next year they would be the small fish in a bigger
pond, the smaller pond is no longer home because they are growing
and maturing; they need to move on.  Andrew was recognized among
his peers with a couple awards that were given out that evening.
I got the photos I needed to capture the event for posterity.

Andrew's graduation was the final school event of the year.
Emily completed her finals last week, as well.  So now the
summer can really begin and this summer we have all four of
our children at home.  I don't know if we'll get another so
we'll make the best of this one.

On Saturday, we hosted a graduation party for Ryan Magnuson
and his family.  The weather was fine on Saturday morning for
us to get some of the outdoor chores completed, but by the
time guests were arriving, the clouds rolled in and was lightly
raining.  However, in contrast to the previous week's party
for Miranda, the air temperature was inviting.  The young men
played several vigorous games of volleyball; the young women
jumped into the pool.  The horseshoe pits were exercized, too.
The rest of us found places to chat in the house.  I got out
a tarp and plastic sheeting to put over the slats of our deck
to keep the rain off of me and Eric as we grilled hamburgers
and hot dogs.

After the A crowd (the older set) left, Eric and Linda
attempted to put the place back together (doing a pretty
good job).  The B crowd (the younger set) popped in a DVD
and hunkered down in the barn for a couple of hours. 

After church on Sunday morning, we had three guests for
Sunday dinner; one for Mandy, one for Jessie, and one for
Andrew.  I don't know what happened with Emily!  We went
in four directions after the evening service! Do you see
why I wonder if we'll have another summer where we are all
together? But such is the way of things.

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