Graduation News

It's graduation time! Congratulations to Emily Yergler on her graduation from Palm Beach Atlantic University, Andrew Swann from Davidson Academy, Keaton Raglin from White House Heritage High School, and Cameron Jones from home school.

AWARDS. I failed to mention this last time, but a week ago Thursday we went to East Robertson's award night. Jenna got several awards for academic achievement and Ben was named Seventh Grade Boy of the Year. They both made us very proud.

PACKING. We made a quick trip to Georgia for Cameron's graduation last weekend. The kids got out of school early so we could get there at a reasonable hour. As we were packing Vicki asked Nate to throw the dirty clothes down the stairs. A moment or two later we heard Nate say, "Bon voyage!" and then some clothes hit the floor.

This happened two or three more times until Jenna hollered up to him, "Um, Nate, I think you mean 'Bomb's away!'"

He didn't quite follow her advice and said, "Look out below!" instead.

THE MIRACLE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY. East Robertson's graduation was Friday evening. We happened to be driving through Atlanta at the time. No worries. The ceremony was being streamed live on the Internet. We turned my phone's hot spot on and took it in via Jenna's iPad, even piping the audio through the van's speakers.

What was so funny about all of this was that while the graduates were filing into the gym a friend of ours was visible in the background so we start texting her, even making fun of her chewing her gum and sending her a picture of herself on the iPad. She got pretty tickled.

HOME SCHOOL GRADUATION. Cameron's graduation was Saturday afternoon. There were six graduates recognized in his ceremony. It was really neat because they had time to give a brief bio with a slide show for each one. It was a very special time. Cameron plans to pursue criminal justice in college.

COOTIES. Normally when we visit the Jones family Vicki and I get the guest bedroom. This time Darice's mom and step dad were in so Vicki and I displaced Emily and Jenna who got to sleep downstairs.

Emily was a little uncomfortable with me sleeping in her bedroom and insisted that I sleep in the trundle bed. She even put Spider-Man sheets on the trundle for me and polka dot sheets on her bed for Vicki. Of course, I told her I loved polka dot sheets and even liked to connect the dots when I have insomnia.

Well, this went back and forth all weekend and in the end I decided to stop at the store and buy a couple of packages of rubber bands. Before I left I had put rubber bands all over her room and bathroom--every drawer pull, every trophy, around every picture, every light fixture. I'm thinking she'll be finding rubber bands for weeks to come. I told her she would need to disinfect every place she finds a rubber band because my cooties would be there.

DINNER CHOICES. Speaking of the miracles of modern technology, on the way home we decided to eat supper in Murfreesboro. Vicki started checking her phone for top rated restaurants after we drove past Manchester. The Donut Palace was among the top choices in the list which was exactly where Nate wanted to eat. We all laughed and he was offended because he was dead serious.

SPEAKING OF WHEELS. Nate has learned to ride a bike! Ben taught him. He never picked it up when I tried to teach him. Now he rides all over the yard.

It’s funny how a bike was indispensable for me at an early age. I think I got my first bike when I was in the first grade. Brian, Steve, Brent, and I rode our bikes all over the community. One generation later bikes are of much lesser importance.

Joe