Coming home

Chris and I arrived home yesterday from a week of traveling south and back, and Spencer comes home this evening. Wren, together with our friend, Jo, and Fiona, held down Chez Goyette while the the three of us were away.

Spencer is already back in the US. We can't wait to see him and hear all about his trip.

Wren's good advice

When Wren hugged Spence goodbye at the airport on Sunday, she gave him a piece of advice.
"Remember, Spencer" she told him. "Go for the throat."
He smiled at her.

"I'm serious," she said. "Hey, I've taken some self defense classes. I know what I'm talking about.
And she's right.
She does.

Right about this time, one of Spencer's friends who was also going on the Europe trip said, "The throat? Really?"
"Yes," she said. "It's a weak point."
She explained. "You kick 'em in the shin and when they fall forward, you punch 'em in the throat like this."

Spencer's friend looked impressed. I don't think he was counting on a lesson in self defense prior to boarding the plane.

Ever since Spencer was born, Wren has looked out for him. In elementary school, the kids called them Ren and Stimpy and this was fine as long as no one laid a finger on Spence. You didn't want to upset Stimpy's big sister.

Though she hasn't had to protect him from other kids for a long time, she still looks out for him.
In her own special way.
That is, with satisfaction of knowing if he can throw a decent throat punch, he'll be okay among European strangers.

Where Is Spencer?

Spencer left on his trip to Europe today.
Here's where he is so far - off the coast of Newfoundland.

Thanks for this site, Zane.

Obligatory interview

As they get older, it becomes more difficult to get Wren and Spence to answer a few questions about how they're doing, what's going on their lives, etc. It's like an act of congress to get them to sit down and chat with me.

Following a big sigh, here is what Spence had to say about graduation and summer plans.

Gabcast! The Cirque #0 - 090613Spencer

Spencer's thoughts on graduation and summer.



Oh how he's changed from that first day of high school.

Gabcast! The Cirque #0 - 050825Spencer's first day

First day of high school for Spence



Congratulations, Spence. You've come a long way, Baby.

Spencer's graduation

The four of us
Originally uploaded by jcgoyette.

Spencer graduated a week from yesterday.

I really should have written about it before now but honestly, it just hasn't been that easy for me.

At first, I wasn't sure why. I mean, we had a lot of people from both sides of the family here to help Spence celebrate. And though he doesn't like the limelight, he did enjoy having everyone here, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and of course Chris, Wren and me.

Naturally, having all of those people come to our house, most of whom had never seen it, was cause for excitement for all of us.
And panic.

We wanted the house to be especially warm and inviting and while it was okay before we started the graduation countdown, we made it downright impressive. By impressive, I mean we actually hung up some pictures, purged more from the basement and cleaned, cleaned, cleaned.

As my sister, Marie, says, "There's nothing like family coming to visit to make you get stuff done."

And so we stayed very busy right up until people started to arrive. Then we stayed busy visiting with everyone, taking lots of pictures, and going to graduation. Spencer marched in with his classmates, a sea of blue and white. He graduated Magna Cum Laude.
All of us are so proud of him.

Then on Sunday afternoon, when everyone was gone and we could sort of flop out on the sofa, I started crying. I don't mean I got a little weepy, I mean I cried.
Loudly.

"What's wrong?" Chris said.
"I don't know," I sobbed.
Though we were both pretty sure it had something to do with our second, and last, child graduating from high school, going off to college in the Fall. We had been so busy right up until the graduation that I hadn't let myself think about what was actually happening.

My father used to tell me that the time between when my sisters and me were babies to when we were graduating from high school was a blink, the time goes by so fast.
He's right. It really does happen like that.

When Wren and Spencer were babies, people would say 'Enjoy them while they're little!' I thought that was so odd, like I wouldn't enjoy them once they got too big to cuddle. Personally, I had every intention of enjoying them for the rest of their lives.
And I have.

Even with all the work it takes to raise up your kids, including the last high school graduation, it's worth all the blood and sweat, and the tears.
Especially the tears.