Graduation #3

This past Monday was M1's high school graduation.  I didn't think it would be emotional for me, but it was.  I came to the realization that my little girl is growing up.  I guess with her getting her driver's license, preparing for university (I might be in for more emotional ups and downs in a couple of months), and applying for summer jobs, I have been getting little doses of her growing up.  But it sometimes takes these milestones for the moment to really hit you.  Then there's always that tinge of sadness that YC isn't sitting beside me as our daughter walks across the stage to receive her diploma.  It's supposed to get easier but I'll let you know when I get there.

This was the school's first in-person graduation ceremony in two years.  So I would have thought the production would have been better.  There were close to 400 graduating students and the ceremony took place in the school's gym, with a make-shift stage.  The stage was small - only had the principal, two vice-principals, two trustees, and two emcees.  There was a small table for awards.  The music was pre-recorded by the school band - not live.  Perhaps they could have tried to get a bigger venue.  M1's Grade 8 graduation had the school band performing live - ironically, in this high school (but there were a lot less students).

Nevertheless, the students enjoyed it, as they should.  It was their night.  It was a huge milestone in their lives.  And given that they had two years of on-and-off pandemic lockdowns, I think they were all really happy to be together with their classmates to experience this ceremony in person. M1 had some friends over before the ceremony to take pictures in our backyard.

A nice moment was M1 winning the Principal's Award - for academic achievement (she is an Ontario Scholar) and exhibiting potential and responsibility.  Congratulations M1!  Mommy and Daddy are very proud of you.

Big Oh

The Tradition Continues

Today is YC’s and my 23^rd wedding anniversary.  It seems I have started a tradition of posting a blog on our anniversary.  And I guess the blog will be about memories I have with YC.

My wife likes traditions.  She feels they give our children a sense of certainty – something to count on and look forward to.  They know that we will have “family reunion dinner” at Chinese New Year.  We will put up our Christmas tree after M1’s birthday; we will open presents on Christmas morning.  We will go to Menchie’s after dance recital.

Well, COVID-19 put a wrench in a few of these traditions (the Menchie’s we normally go to closed down).  But YC is also very flexible.  She doesn’t let the traditions force her to do things.  She partakes in them because she enjoys them.  If something changes, she will change the tradition, maybe start a new one.  She told our girls, “You will also start new traditions with your children.”

One tradition that YC is very rigid on, though, is apple picking.  We went every year that I can remember, since M1 was old enough to grab an apple.  Sometimes we went with friends, sometimes we went with cousins, and sometimes we just went with our own family.  One thing you can be sure of is that when Thanksgiving approached, we would go apple picking.  There was one orchard where we got to take a wagon ride and children were able to run around on haystacks.  But eventually it got too pricey.  YC found other orchards, one as far away as Mississauga.  There were some good ones in Stouffville where we also bought fresh apple cider that tasted very good.  One time we tried baking an apple pie with the apples we picked, but it didn’t turn out that well.  The important thing is that we had fun.

The one thing YC enjoys most about apple picking is taking pictures of our girls – picking apples, funny poses, just having fun.  This actually leads into another tradition of YC’s.  That is our family calendar.  YC makes a calendar each year with pictures of our family (and friends’) events throughout the year.  She loves the apple picking ones.

I’m happy to report that during the past two years, we did not let COVID stop this tradition.  We still went and picked our apples, drank apple cider, and took nice pictures that made their way into the family calendar.  YC, my love, I hope you enjoy reminiscing about our apple picking memories.  Happy Anniversary.

Big Oh