Changes

Lots of changes, transitions. 

Tuesday night was "Transition to High School" preview night at M's school.  She has another year to go, but next year is when we do all the final preparations for it.  I'm not really ready for it:)  lol  I will be.  Doesn't matter, though, as she will be, and that's her life.  The plan is for a public high school, which in my county / area, means huge comparatively.  Maybe the magnet program, maybe the local high school.  We've known that.  It's all the details, and the decision.  And the application procedures and trying out for teams.  Weighing the pros and cons, both have riding clubs, regular high school activities, one has the better drama department and decent honors programs, the other could fit her academic needs that much better, but would there be too much homework for her ADD mind, or would medicine help, or?  Most if not all from M's current school were stumped when presented with a combination lock rather uncermoniously, without any explanation of how to use one.  Here, it's just not an issue.  We'll deal, and, yes, M will cry and be sad, but will also be excited to move on and up.   Graduation for this years 8th graders is coming up, and M is part of that ceremony.  Transition.

Last night, was the Senior Banquet at church.  It's an annual event.  Last year I was able to be much more involved with the "spoofing" video filming and other events.  Eh, I'm still glad that we went.  Some of this particular class of 2007, I've known since they were new 6th graders, a bit nervous their first time in "youth group."  Retreats years ago even, one that M joined in (so I could join), yes, for the then middle school weekend retreat and her possibly 7 or 8 years old max (M was in one of the photos even).  Some, I've had great honor to have known most of them.   (In theory, I'll add the link to this past fall's senior high retreat posts HERE from this journal.)  Amy, Kimmy, Caitlin!!, Sarah, others, and the boys, too, including Ryan, Alex, CJ, Evan, Drew, Nick, etc.  Great leaders here, great youth all of them. 

I also spent time talking with, or more talking to and hugging, sophmore B, "left behind" soon by all of her closest friends.  She kept her tear-smeared face covered by her hair and hands, apologizing but I told her that's okay, her thanking me.  That there are many ways to stay in touch now, e-mails and IM's and such.  That she's pretty special to not be a senior but still make it (as a reference that was so apt) in the Senior Film.  That I know that she's feeling ready to bust out and join them, but it's just not her time.  That this is another page, or another chapter in the book.  This is not the end of the book.

I have benefit of experience (read age) behind me; she has not.  I've had some great conversations with this particular girl, and wish like with some others, that I had time for more, too.  Maybe this summer sometimes when M's not with me, I'll call and see if SophmoreB just wants to hang someplace, the mall or whatever.  Her dad is doing a great job with SophmoreB and her younger brother, from all I can tell, but her mom lives several states away.  Well, at least I intend to do this:)  I give as I'm able to, with my family coming first, my family requiring more this past year.  And, I, too, am excited but sad to see these great young adults moving onward, so I didn't speak but held back tears of my own during their sendoff.

And, then this AOL journals change.  I'm maybe going to like some of it when I figure out what they are, if they apply or can be for me.  I do NOT NOT NOT, however, like how my photos move all about now.  It zooms in on some parts of thephoto and ignore other parts that I may prefer to view.  It has sometimes had me feel slightly seasick (pharmolo has some nice from the ship shots, but I couldn't stay viewing them).  I don't care a ton what else is done, I don't think.  I didn't really mind that my SN was instead signed as Sundancer when I left comments in others journals.  But, messing with my photos?  Oy.  That change, I do not wish to just learn to accept.  New page in the book or not.  Please, Joe or other AOL powers that be, please let me just fix that.  I'll even live with it being a slideshow now if need be (preferably keeping MY order).  I like how there's now box border now.  Just no "Ken Burns" effect.

I'd like to have some say about the pages in MY book.

Tags: changes, transitions