Mon Jun 22 08:00 EDT 1998 Weekend update: June 19-21 Throughout the weekend, our focus was on putting the final touches on the children's musical. I was trying to cement my lines and music in my head and Joy was busy with Carrie getting scenery in place. The musical went well despite an early gaff by ME. Fortunately, I was blissfully oblique about the gaff until the end when I turned to Jenn to encourage her for the trhouble I thought SHE had. She looked at me and told me that I had come in too early and was the one who made the first scene awkward. ("I did? Oh well.") As usual, Joy did a wonderful job with the kids and juggling everything else. We especially enjoyed the comic relief joggers (Jan Lunn and Meredith "Edna" Debow) who practically stole the show everytime they appeared. I want to cut the news of the weekend short so I can share with you the letter I composed with Joy that was read during last night's service. Every year, our church has a special service to honor the graduates and the parents get up and read letters to their kids who are about to enter a new phase of life. Here is what we presented: ======================================================================= Miranda Joy Metcalfe The name Miranda Joy means Admirable Delight. When we discovered you were on the way, we were excited and happy. Just moments later, we dedicated you to the Lord with praise and joy in our hearts. Since that moment, we have continued to dedicate you to God. You began talking at an early age and you haven't stopped since. You would use a wide vocabulary of polysyllabic palaver with clear diction. You were the church baby at the Wollaston Church of the Nazarene, partly because you were the granddaughter of the Pastor and daughter of the church custodian. I used to vacuum the church with you suspended in front of me in a baby carrier. The sound and motion would put you to sleep. Your most treasured possession was your little pillow. It once was responsible for a fender bender because you left it at a restaurant and I had to go back that night to retrieve it. You also had an imaginary friend called Hame. Hame used to drive along behind us wherever we went in a little car. When we left Wollaston and moved to Lowell, Hame stayed behind. We sometimes wondered if little eyes could see her guardian angel. It wasn't long before you had a little sister and she immediately had two mothers. Even at the age of two, you were helpful with baby Jessica. Jessica would often follow your model. You've been a pair of best friends all your life, and I can't tell you how profoundly grateful I am that you are! You would create and direct home dramas in which you starred with your sister Jessica and anyone else who happened to be visiting. You would make sure the adults had front row seats for your productions. You learned about telling the truth one weekday morning. The previous night, your mother and I snapped a chalk line for mom to stencil a chair rail, In the morning you wondered what the blue line on the wall was and you rubbed some of it off with your finger. Afraid of being found out, you filled in the line with indelible magic marker. Joy called me at work, furious. I instructed her to send you to your room, more for your own safety than punishment! It took a long time for you to understand that trying to cover up your error was why we were angry and not that you drew on the wall. Emily came, then Andrew, and you always lent a helping hand, true to being the firstborn. You've been a terrific big sister to the younguns. You even once saved your brother from drowning when he was very young and climbed up on the deck of the pool without us know it. That wasn't the first drowning you averted either because you saved a beginner swimmer who had gone down the slide at camp into deep water. Throughout grade school your teachers adored you. It was tough on your parents hearing the same old song of how wonderful you were when we would go to parent/teacher conferences. In your final year of grade school, the school faculty conspired together and voted you the outstanding female sixth grader. You have talents in painting and egg craft and sewing. You took up the violin, but you were always a solo player. I am happy that you will always have the gift of music in you. However, you put down the violin and took up sign language. You had a natural talent; a gift. You took all the courses you could, even entering adult courses in the subject because they were the only ones left to promote you beyond your current level. God will use this talent in you. Keep it developed. Your excellence in sign and your other studies enabled you to participate in the dual enrollment program, getting your first year of college credits under your belt while finishing your senior year at high school. You graduated in the top 5% of your class. Your mother and I are fiercely proud of you for all these things and more. Solomon said that there is a time for everything under the sun and as difficult it is for us to see our family enter into this phase of family life, you are ready; for college and for life. You are an admirable delight to us; a deep joy in my heart. Keep God first in your life and know that He, and we, will always, always, always love and cherish you. Thank you for being such a wonderful daughter! Love, Dad and Mom P.S. from Mom: I remember when you started first grade and suddenly everything we said was wrong. I remember wondering just how Mrs. Holland got so smart, and we got so dumb! Over the years it has been fun to watch you grow and change. I can't tell you how much pleasure it gave me to overhear you telling one of your sisters something this year and to recognize the words as something I had said to you some years back. It pleased me even more that you said "You know mom told me this a few years ago and I didn't know whether to believe her or not but she was right". It was not only nice to find out I was right about something but that you actually remembered it. We have come to a point where our relationship is going to change, but in many ways that already began this year with your attending Mt. Wachusett College. I have enjoyed our shopping trips together and our working side by side in the garden and on the house (although I may never forgive you for rolling that blue paint up my back).We have already begun the process of switching from a parent/child relationship to being friends. You will always be my little girl but I am proud of the woman you have become, and will be proud to also call you my friend. ====================================================== That's the news from lake Wobegone, the town that time forgot, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above avaerage. Mark __ __ Mark Metcalfe , / \./ \/\_ Cadence Design Systems, Inc. \_0__, __{^\_ _}_ ) }/^\ 270 Billerica Road M / /\_/^\._}_/ // / Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01824 .|\. ( (__{(@)}\__}.//_/__A____A_______A________A________A_____A___A___A__ \__/{/(_)\_} )\\ \\---v-----V-----V---Y-----v----Y------v-----V----- ( (__)_)_/ )\ \> Email: metcalfe@cadence.com \__/ \__/\/\/ Phone: (978) 446-6451 \__,--' Fax: (978) 446-6351 A rose for you.