Talk to the Hand

Kelsey's been reading A Tale of Two Cities, and she's struggling a bit. She loves the dialogue, but the long, detailed descriptions of places and events are not her favorite parts. So, rather than buckle down and read, she decided to express herself creatively. I get that English Lit Teacher is probably not where she's headed.

Handy (wo)Man

Kelsey's been spending her summer afternoons hard at work with the crew of OPRF's summer musical Hello Dolly.

When she signed up, we were told she'd be trained to use tools. We didn't realize how handy

those skills would be!

Our gutter's been leaking all spring and summer. Today Kelsey climbed up on the roof, cleaned out the garden that had been growing there, and calked the seam so it won't leak.

It's great to know there's a handy (wo)man in the house!

Mud Ball

Kelsey's co-ed soccer team has been fun to watch this year. There's been a true spirit of comraderie, and they've played well, compiling a winning record.
Today was the championship game and the Yellow Team came out victorious...and very, very muddy.
It rained off and on all day today, but somehow the kids were still allowed to play. While waiting their turn for the field, they begin to write nicknames in mud on each others' backs. Kelsey's nickname: Killer.
The final game was more about who could stay on their feet the longest, as the field at Taylor Park was an absolute mess. The middle of the field was complete mud with no grass, and the western goal was nestled on the far side of a growing lake. At one point Kelsey slipped in mid-field and went down quite literally with a splash. She was covered in mud from her feet all the way up to her back.
The mud brought an unusual lightheartedness to the game. After all, it's hard to take yourself too seriously when you and all your teammates are covered in mud!
Hmmmm, maybe, for a little perspective, all competitive sports should be forced to play in the mud once in a while!

Pomp and Fire Drills

Tonight was Kelsey's 8th grade graudation from Percy Julian Middle School, held at Oak Park & River Forest High School. Once we took care of the crazy "stick on" collar, we thought we were good to go...
...right up to the point the fire alarm sounded, delaying the start of the ceremony by about 20 minutes. Turns out there was a theater performance in another part of the building, and the intense lights plus all the body heat from the performers and patrons set off the heat alarm in the room, triggering the alarm. Mandatory evacuation of the entire building ensued, so we all headed outside. At least it wasn't raining!

Once we all returned to the auditorium, the cattle call -- I mean, the ceremony -- began.

I didn't graudate from 8th grade, I simply moved on to high school. No fanfare. No robe. No ceremony. No party. I don't feel the least bit deprived. Finishing 8th grade should be, after all, the midpoint of your academic life, not the end. No one celebrates Wednesday the same way they celebrate Friday. School board member Peter Barber put it this way in his speech to the graduating 8th graders: "In Oak Park, we expect you to go on to high school, and we expect you to go on to college after that."

In spite of my somewhat cynical attitude about the 8th grade graudation ceremony, it gave our family a chance to celebrate Kelsey in a special way...

...and it gave Drew something to look forward to in another 6 years.

Congratulations, Kelsey. I really am proud of you!