Thankful Lately

Today I give thanks for...

Check-ins with Lils as she travels across Europe. I'd be a wreck if I couldn't text with her daily, and chat with...literally see her face...often. Today they're on the train to Prague. Last stop was Poland. Yesterday they toured Auschwitz. She said it was heavy and draining, but she was glad she chose to go.

 

 

The travel the kids are doing has my dad waxing on about seeing his roots. I don't see them taking on a trip like this on their own and I said as much to Mike. My sweet man suggested we take them. We pitched it to them on Sunday. By Monday night, they informed me that their passports are good until 2030. I've already been researching and hope to make it happen before year-end.

The brevity of life has been slapping me in the face lately. Instead of curling up in the fetal position, I want to do and say all the things that matter. The things that matter to me. Not so much lofty or worldly. Closer to home. And things are really people...the people in my orbit.

James Patterson. He was the 2026 keynote speaker. He delivered. His speech was funny, self-deprecating, honest and insightful. It wasn't hawkish, preachy or full of too many cliches, but let's be honest - cliches are cliches for a reason. He told a story of five balls...one rubber, the others glass. Work you can drop, but family, friends, health and spirit are more fragile and require the most care. I'm keeping this one.

 

Elizabeth Strout's Oh William! I finally picked it up and am reminded how I love the way she gets into the nitty gritty of her characters. I know them. They are me...flawed, but mostly good, surrounded by people, yet often marooned.

 

The girls hired a photographer to follow them around campus one afternoon. It was a brilliant idea to get the iconic shots. It certainly took the pressure off me on the day off. In fact, I didn't take many photos over the weekend. I was in the moment instead of capturing it for later, and as much as I cherish pictures, it was the right place to be.

 

 

I wanted one decent family photo of the four of us. Lily was kind enough to put her dress back on since she changed the minute she got home. We're all a little weathered from the wind and the thirty minute walk from Camp Randall to West Washington, but this is us. And the rest of us too.

Cin, Cin! The Friday before we had dinner at Lily's favorite restaurant just off State Street. Three courses, all delicious, in three hours. I'm going back for that octopus deliciousness. My rack of lamb was just as good. As is tradition, we went next door to the piano bar to sing until our hearts content.

 

Badger spirit, red and white, Go Bucky, Jump Around, Lake Mendota and Lake Monona...the isthmus, Memorial Union, Bascom Hill, State Street Brats, and so many other things that make Madison special, as well as the shared pride we have in being a family of UW-WI alumni. 

The birds are back. We have a couple bluebirds nesting in the yard. Daily sightings remind me of my mom in the best way. We also have a pair of sand hill cranes who are visiting often. We all love to watch them including Hazel and Gus.

 

This goofy, lovable little guy.

 

 

This sweet, sassy little girl.

 

Godspeed Girls

 

 

I couldn't sleep last night. I want to blame Gus and then Hazel, but I realized the true culprit was latent adrenaline from graduation weekend. The good thing is that sleep is not something I struggle with so when I have a rare case of insomnia, I let my mind wander without weighty worry. It was a beautiful weekend celebrating Lily and friends, and the few things I would change, are not worth mention because there is no way I'm letting perfect ruin just about perfect. While I was lying awake in the wee hours, I heard a notification on my phone. The girls landed in London...the first stop on their month long trip. Since then, they rode the Eye, ate fish and chips, drank pints in pubs and were in the Cabaret audience. Tomorrow they move on to Amsterdam. It's my mission to keep up on and my confession to live vicariously through their travels..

Lily was eeking out every last Madison milestone in the weeks leading up to graduation. The girls made it their mission to check off as many things as possible from their bucket list. I was impressed with and tired for them. The few stragglers can be taken on this summer. They have their house until August. Since she's moving home for awhile, I expect she'll spend a few weekends in Madison.

 

 

The mood of the weekend was celebratory. I felt only joy...no rue...no regret...a perma grin gracing my face the whole time. Well, except for when the stadium sang Varsity acapella, and when I thought of Dawn and Nanny. I'm proud of these ladies and not just because their futures are bright, but also because they take care of each other, they are good to one another and they appreciate what they have.

 

All the party planning and I forgot about a toast, or hoped someone else would give it truth be told. I had no takers so I shot from the hip, or more like heart. I have to say I kind of killed it because I know these girls. Six girls in one house not just roommates, but the best kind of friends. Lily and Kayla were high school friends, but not close like they are now. Lily found Faith on Facebook and they chose to live together before meeting. Over-enrollment turned their double into a triple and along came Ava. Hannah is Kayla's family friend, and a friend to one is a friend to all. Sydney joined the girls this year as the sixth roomie even though she graduated early, and Emma didn't live at 405 W Wash, but she may as well have. The rest is history.

 

 

We had the most beautiful day for a yard party. It was a blast and much better attended than I anticipated. It also lasted much longer than I expected, but no complaints on that front. All of the food was gone and most of the liquor as it should be. After the band rocked, the bags and the dice came out and the bonfire was lit. Around 11 o'clock, the kids went out to the bars. They had a plan to stay up all night and jump in Lake Mendota at sunrise.

That didn't happen, which was a good thing because some of the girls were leaving for London Monday. We brought lunch over and got to work getting the house in order and Lily's suitcase packed. I confess I brought more for the weekend than she's bringing for a month abroad. Mike worried that I was working away my Mother's Day, which was sweet, but the day was actually perfect. The whole weekend was one amazing gift. It was a spectacular send off!