School's Out

Congratulations to the girls on a very successful year at school!

My Indomitable Spirit

Thursday evening , Cassie graduated from a light blue Taekwondo belt to a dark blue one.  That means that she has about five more levels to achieve in her quest to become a black belt.  I guess this was the seventh Taekwondo graduation that we've attended.  While each ceremony is special, this one marked the culmination of a year that has been particularly difficult for Cassie.  A year filled with gains, unexpected losses and challenges has caused her to grow up and assume a little more independence than we had planned.  And, she has hardly ever complained.  So, on Thursday night, it was absolutely appropriate that Cassie was lauded for embodying the Taekwondo tenet of "The Indomitable Spirit."  

I don't make a habit of discussing my kid's accomplishments in public.  I don't brag about her grades or her test scores or her reading level.  But, I've decided that this might be one feat that deserves a little public praise.  On Thursday night, Cassie had to break a 3/4 inch pine board with some sort of leaping kick.  Board breaking is a standard part of graduation and in the past, Cassie has always done it on the first try.  For whatever reason, it wasn't as easy this time.  So, under the tutelage of the two senior masters, and with about 30 other graduates and their families watching, Cassie kicked and kicked until she finally broke the board.  After she was finished, she flung herself into my arms so that no one could see her tears, which was just fine because it prevented everyone from seeing mine.

The master instructors praised Cassie's "Indomitable Spirit," and the entire studio applauded and cheered.  As I listened, I realized that they didn't even know half the story.  You see, over the past year, Cassie has risen to every personal challenge thrown at her.  She has assumed primary responsible for teaching Lacey how to navigate the many settings of life in the U.S. - family life, the neighborhood, the bus, school, to mention a few.  She has taught Lacey about personal hygiene and style; the role of a sister and daughter; what friendship is; how to enjoy books; how to be a good winner and loser; how to have a doll tea party; and how to love pets.  The list is endless.  The other day I came downstairs and Cassie was actually helping Lacey memorize a children's poem about being an American citizen.   Over the past eight months, while I lacked the energy to do many of the simplest things, Cassie has never complained.  Instead, she has voluntarily assumed responsibility for helping.  

So now I'm going to publicly praise my kid, and shout from the proverbial mountaintop.  Because Cassie has been My Indomitable Spirit, full of resolution, grit and courage.  And on Thursday night, she deserved  every bit of praise and applause that she received. 

The First Attempt

Receiving a little guidance from her mentor, "Miss Laura"

"Keying Up" for a Kick

The Flying Sidekick

Cassie being awarded the uniform patch for "Best Form"

Celebrating with Cassie

Pass the Time, Please!

Maybe I hadn't spent enough time at medical appointments last week, because I broke a tooth yesterday and had to head for the dentist.  After informing me that my copay would be in the realm of $600, the dental assistant apologetically told me that today's appointment would take two hours or so.  "Hey," I exclaimed.  "If I hadn't had to skip lunch to get here on time, that would be great news.  Do you know that the next two hours will probably be the only time I have to myself all week?!"   I clutched my copy of  "Bohemian Chic," and settled into the recliner, content to be reading about decorating with "vintage and salvage."  The dental assistant peered at me for a couple minutes, struggling to compose an appropriate response, and finally walked away.

Les and I always swore that we would never become one of those families that is constantly rushing from one extracurricular activity to another.  And, for the most part, we have kept that promise.  We usually have at least two weekday afternoons that are spent quietly at home.   Knowing that Lacey had so much about her new life to absorb, we held off on extra activities for her until next year.  But, the end of the school year brings a mad rush of activities that scorns family time.

Let's take a glimpse at my calendar and allow you to live vicariously through a Northern Virginia family!  

June 4, 10:00  a.m. - Stand in line for 2 hours to buy dance recital tickets

June 5, 1:00 p.m. - Dance recital photos

June 6, 3:30 p.m. - School book fair

June 7, 5:15 p.m. - Violin Lesson

June 8, 4:30 p.m. - Ballet Lesson

June 9, 7:00 p.m. - Taekwondo Graduation

June 10 - Kindergarten picnic (send chips)

June 11, 10:00 a.m. - Violin rehearsal

June 14, 4th grade picnic (send chips)

June 15, Kindergarten birthday party (send juice bags); 4:30 p.m. - ballet class; 7:00 p.m. - Violin recital

June 17, Last day of school, 12:00 dismissal (argue with Les over who gets to leave work early)

June 20, Begin week of summer camp and getting girls up at 6:00 a.m.

June 22, 4:30 p.m. - Parent's day at ballet

June 23, 4-6 p.m. - Ballet Dress Rehearsal

June 24, All Day - Lacey's Birthday!, Betsy's Last day of work!!

June 25, 1:00 p.m. - Dance Recital

All events come crashing into a grand finale.  I appreciate the sense of accomplishment that all these activities afford the children.  But, I always wish some of this joy could be spread over the rest of the school year.  Two months of unscheduled, spontaneous activities with the girls will be my just reward.  And people actually wonder why I don't sign the girls up for swim team.

By the way, I'm still anxiously awaiting the surge of energy that's supposed to result from the iron infusion.  I guess that initial burst I felt was just a little charity from all the steroids I had to ingest.

Give Me Six Weeks

I think one of the most awkward conversational moments has to be when a doctor asks, "How are you?". Seriously, what kind of answer is the doctor seeking? "Fine, doc, I just dropped by to see how you are."


So, last week I got to visit a hematologist.  When that question came my way, my first inclination was to respond, "well, if you'd glanced at the 11 pages of forms that you had me fill out, you might not have to ask." Or how about, "I've been a bit bored lately and I heard you had good coffee in your fantastic waiting room!  And while we're on the subject, can you tell me again why it was that you wanted me to show up 30 minutes early?"


All kidding aside, there really were 11 pages of forms which I had to fill out before I arrived. (And that 30-minute early arrival was for???)  So you can understand my state of mind when I finally reached the question regarding "method of birth control."   I racked my brain for some appropriately medical-sounding term and finally settled for "fatigue."  If the doctor actually read this, he did a great job keeping a straight face!


This morning, I'm on my way to receive an iron infusion, which is supposed to restore my iron level to 100 percent.  The doctor promised that in six weeks I will be feeling wonderful - just in time to enjoy the summer!