Mark Metcalfe
29th August 2006, 05:32 PM (17:32)
And then there were two.
Joy and I were married in 1979. In just a few months after our wedding day, we discovered that we would become a family. Early on, our relationship and identity has had to focus on parenting and raising a family, but we have always been mindful of our priorities to each other. Soon two became three, then three became four. A short while later, five and six were added to the family. The focus of the ten years after we stopped adding to the family was raising the children to become independent so that when their turn had come, they would face the challenges of life well-prepared. Miranda went off to college and we became five plus one. Jessica went, too, and got married to David Young. Emily followed a short while later, then Miranda married Nathan Patnode, and now Andrew has entered his college years.
This year, Miranda has been hired by the Everett, MA school system teaching 5th and 6th grade special education kids. We also touched base with Jessica this week. She has started her new school year in Missouri. Her new class has a couple of challenging kids, and a number of perfect angels, too; so says the teacher-of-the-year-nominee-for-2005-2006.
Emily and Andrew will still be close to home, and invading us from time to time; welcomed intrusions. It won't be long until they marry and that will complete the last vestiges of this life transition, even as the promise of grandchildren on the horizon will usher in yet another chapter. Suddenly, Joy and I find ourselves alone, and together, and with a sense that while something precious is ending, something precious is beginning, too.
Beside our own children, Joy has been caring for Kayla Bickom since she was an infant, and her older brother Brandon has enjoyed Joy's care after school, as well. Kayla is now ready for grade school and Monday is their last day of regular day care. Paula has a new job in Kayla's school. The time has come.
I stayed home on Friday as Andrew packed. Packing Andrew was easier than packing Emily in that he didn't have as much stuff to move as she did, but it seemed a little harder emotionally for the reasons already stated. Andrew said his goodbyes to friends who are off to other colleges, or staying behind in Pepperell, and at our local church. He is lucky in this information age to have many ways to reconnect with his friends electronically which dulls the pangs of separation and helps to keep relationship alive. Andrew and I played some Halo as father and son that afternoon. We took him out to Unos for dinner on Friday night and then returned home to play three-player Dr. Mario. He must have wanted to help us to not miss him so much because he really beat us bad.
We arose Saturday morning, packed up the pickup truck, and crammed into the small cab for the trip to Quincy. Joy assisted Andrew in registering while I stayed with the truck and Andrew's worldly possessions. When I was cleared to pull up the truck to the dorm, a crew of ENC students grabbed the stuff from the truck and carted it up to Room 251 in no time at all. Emily was part of the crew. His roommate was finishing his unpacking when we arrived. Shane is from Pennsylvania and a football fan, so they may have some interesting sports conversations.
We met Sherrie Burt and other friends but Sherrie had the quote of the day. When we informed her that we were dropping off our last one at college, she turned to Joy wth a word of encouragement saying, "don't worry, you still have a child at home."
After a surprise 50th birthday party for a friend that afternoon, we were tired and made our way home before dark. We settled on the couch and popped in a borrowed movie. The house was quiet.
We went to church in Wareham on Sunday. David Shaw was moving his son Jordan to Wentworth College and asked my father to preach in his stead. Lynn led the service and accompanied (quite well, I will add) Mom and Dad on the piano as they sang "Follow Me." We took the opportunity to hear Dad speak, Mom and Dad sing, and to take them out to dinner for their 52nd wedding anniversary. We spent the afternoon at their home in Falmouth.
We have since heard that Emily and Andrew are enjoying being at school together. I asked them to take care of each other, and I know they will.
Mark
Joy and I were married in 1979. In just a few months after our wedding day, we discovered that we would become a family. Early on, our relationship and identity has had to focus on parenting and raising a family, but we have always been mindful of our priorities to each other. Soon two became three, then three became four. A short while later, five and six were added to the family. The focus of the ten years after we stopped adding to the family was raising the children to become independent so that when their turn had come, they would face the challenges of life well-prepared. Miranda went off to college and we became five plus one. Jessica went, too, and got married to David Young. Emily followed a short while later, then Miranda married Nathan Patnode, and now Andrew has entered his college years.
This year, Miranda has been hired by the Everett, MA school system teaching 5th and 6th grade special education kids. We also touched base with Jessica this week. She has started her new school year in Missouri. Her new class has a couple of challenging kids, and a number of perfect angels, too; so says the teacher-of-the-year-nominee-for-2005-2006.
Emily and Andrew will still be close to home, and invading us from time to time; welcomed intrusions. It won't be long until they marry and that will complete the last vestiges of this life transition, even as the promise of grandchildren on the horizon will usher in yet another chapter. Suddenly, Joy and I find ourselves alone, and together, and with a sense that while something precious is ending, something precious is beginning, too.
Beside our own children, Joy has been caring for Kayla Bickom since she was an infant, and her older brother Brandon has enjoyed Joy's care after school, as well. Kayla is now ready for grade school and Monday is their last day of regular day care. Paula has a new job in Kayla's school. The time has come.
I stayed home on Friday as Andrew packed. Packing Andrew was easier than packing Emily in that he didn't have as much stuff to move as she did, but it seemed a little harder emotionally for the reasons already stated. Andrew said his goodbyes to friends who are off to other colleges, or staying behind in Pepperell, and at our local church. He is lucky in this information age to have many ways to reconnect with his friends electronically which dulls the pangs of separation and helps to keep relationship alive. Andrew and I played some Halo as father and son that afternoon. We took him out to Unos for dinner on Friday night and then returned home to play three-player Dr. Mario. He must have wanted to help us to not miss him so much because he really beat us bad.
We arose Saturday morning, packed up the pickup truck, and crammed into the small cab for the trip to Quincy. Joy assisted Andrew in registering while I stayed with the truck and Andrew's worldly possessions. When I was cleared to pull up the truck to the dorm, a crew of ENC students grabbed the stuff from the truck and carted it up to Room 251 in no time at all. Emily was part of the crew. His roommate was finishing his unpacking when we arrived. Shane is from Pennsylvania and a football fan, so they may have some interesting sports conversations.
We met Sherrie Burt and other friends but Sherrie had the quote of the day. When we informed her that we were dropping off our last one at college, she turned to Joy wth a word of encouragement saying, "don't worry, you still have a child at home."
After a surprise 50th birthday party for a friend that afternoon, we were tired and made our way home before dark. We settled on the couch and popped in a borrowed movie. The house was quiet.
We went to church in Wareham on Sunday. David Shaw was moving his son Jordan to Wentworth College and asked my father to preach in his stead. Lynn led the service and accompanied (quite well, I will add) Mom and Dad on the piano as they sang "Follow Me." We took the opportunity to hear Dad speak, Mom and Dad sing, and to take them out to dinner for their 52nd wedding anniversary. We spent the afternoon at their home in Falmouth.
We have since heard that Emily and Andrew are enjoying being at school together. I asked them to take care of each other, and I know they will.
Mark