A Very Happy Mom Moment

My daughter Sophia has a graduation coming soon from High School.
She attends Pacifica High School, in Oxnard, as did her sister. We've had a WONDERFUL experience with this school run by William Dabbs. I cannot say enough about what it has meant to my girls, to our family.
I will Always be Thankful to the teachers, students, Principal for the time the girls were involved there. Public education could be judged by the school. It just shows that they "do it right" and to be truthful I think the leadership is why it is good.
It's so nice to attend their Awards at the end of the year, I'll miss it.

This year as Sophia accepted awards for Math and well, English I think, a former student of mine, now a junior, Ryan Ota was getting a basketful. That was just delightful. I had him in 1st and his mother ran the painting center, and did so much for the kids. I got to see her again. What a wonderful woman. So that was just incredible. I was so doubly proud.
Sophia is friends with all the kids, most, who went on in a week to the Senior Awards night and I know them through the girls. It was so meaningful to see them get scholarships and have this chance to go on into lives. We were very worried that a number are CalGrant recipients. Because as it stands that looks like it's getting this Governor's axe. In the state that refuses to think about the young. Not really. No way will they pay for "them." Awful. And I shed tears for that believe me.

I wanted to hug each child. Proud of them.
So here was the thing that really blew me into the land of tears.
If I have the right clip.



It's my daughter being chosen or notified she's going to be Valedictorian.
I recall this with Sylvia, two years ago, but for some reason....Jack and I both went to tears this time around. He looked over at me and we both were thinking of our families. His mother died of cancer and believe me her mind could be a direct line to my girls, I know mine wasn't a significant contributor. I was thinking of my father. I wish he'd seen it. He spent a lifetime in Higher Education working with students to achieve these kinds of moments.
Jack was thinking of his Mom.
So we both cried.

We both know how hard she had to work to get the award. She never came home over the years that she didn't start homework and continue it through the evening. I think that's what she is doing now as I type. I often felt this was so hard on her, unlike what I might really want to see. But as her sister did, well more than her sister maybe, she just studied. Nothing came easily to Sophie except maybe math. And she states that's just because she recalls in math easier. It does not look easy.

A year or so ago I told Sophia I'd write her a poem. She declined saying "poetry is not really my thing," so I guess I can't put this into one of my verses, those largely avoidable ones. But I have felt a lot of pride. She has a week to pen her grad speech. She's also got some finals hanging. But.......it's June 12th and before you know it and I'll be glad to see her sister up here so we can go cheer her on, and possibly I'll even record her words. She promises it will be "very short."


Ok Sophia what about the kookiest song anyone would attach:
( One from when I was just a real kid)