Old friends and new beginnings

Today was a day to remember the past and look forward to the future, in more ways than one. This morning, I had the privilege of meeting Owen Griffis for the first time. Here's Owen:



Such a cutie! I see a lot of his mom Kelli in him, despite the blond curls. Kelli and I have known each other for *almost* 20 years, and she is my "oldest" friend (the one I've known the longest). We met in 1990, in high school freshman English. I'm pretty sure she was in some of my other classes (Geometry, for sure), but Ms. Frazier's class is the one I distinctly remember. I should dig up some old photos of us, but I just don't have the energy right now. (I know I have them, I even know where they are, but I'd have to dismantle 2/3 of a very large closet to get to them at the moment.) But did we ever dream then that 19 years later, we would be sitting in my living room watching our sons play together?



Maybe the thought of our children meeting crossed our minds. Maybe it didn't. I honestly don't recall. (Kelli, care to comment? LOL) Watching it actually happen was both strange and not. I thought it would be weird to see my friends with their kids, but it's not, perhaps because I have one of my own, so it isn't so hard for me to imagine. Most of my friends don't have kids yet, and the few who do, I haven't gotten to meet them yet. So this was really my first experience with it. Kelli being a mom was not strange at all.



But watching small males wearing *our* faces play together? Totally weird! It just blew my mind. To see these two little pieces of ourselves having a grand old time was amazing. I know they didn't get to stay long, as they were only here for a few days and there were lots of people for them to see, but I am so grateful that they were able to fit in some time with us. And I am so sorry that they will likely be moving to Scotland before I get to see them again. I thought California was hard to get to; that will be much worse. Perhaps one day, we shall all meet again. In the meantime, I have these pictures and some amazing memories to hold me over.



But it doesn't end there. Later in the evening, I had another mind-blowing experience: Pre-K Orientation! It is so hard to believe it is time for that already, but here it is, only 25 days away. Most of the information we did not need. It was primarily to review the rules of the center itself and of the Pre-K program. A few tidbits were new, but most were not, the advantage of Luke having been at the center in daycare for nearly 3 years now (wow, can't believe that!). Only one more year, and I'll have an official grade-schooler on my hands. The future's so bright, I've gotta wear shades!

Currently feeling: amazed