Good boy!

let's see.


Broccoli.


Spinach.


Cauliflower.






all gone.



Good Boy.



love you,
A

Une chanson

Je t'aime comme la lune et je t'aime comme un astre
Je suis désolé que je suis un désastre

Je t'adore dans le matin, je t'adore dans le soir
Mais la chose la plus important est que je t'adore

Je l'aime quand tu portes jaune, et je l'aime quand tu portes vert
Dans le jeu d'amour, je ne suis pas un expert

En dessous d'un arbe et en dessous du ciel
La plus belle fille du monde, c'est facile, c'est elle

Je t'aime comme la lune et je t'aime comme un astre
Je suis désolé que je suis un désastre

Is there a line to be wary of crossing when satisfying cravings?

I'm aching to be a wanderer. I'm wondering if this is just a phase. And even if it is, why couldn't I live it out for its little while? I've been feeling this for some time now ... this longing for 'something more.'

I'm almost sad to have recently found out about the reality of SURFWISE.

It's hard not to feel an excitement, an overwhelming wonder and a stint of envy at the brief introduction to the Paskowitz family.

Would it be selfish to bring our not-yet-conceived children along with us on a journey of cultural experience and true lifelong learning?

What would it be like not to settle in one place and in lieu of, be a part of so many? I'm tempted to find out.

Really.

Am I just being a dreamer?

- A

Out with the OLD and in with the NEW

Thanks C.

I was proud. Am proud.

At first it was a silly thought to 'walk' for a comm. college degree. The significance of the accomplishment didn't settle until I sat during the ceremony listening to the speech delivered by the guest speaker.

The piece of paper not only represents the hours of lectures, studies, and school work I put into it; but more importantly, the obstacles I had to tackle in order to achieve. This accomplishment was hard to come by.

So yes, I am proud.

What I look to next are short or long-term goals. I'll voice them out, perhaps you'll be able to help. I want to be able to say that:

* i ride a bicycle to market every thursday through the summer and fall just so that i can walk amongst the vendors looking, touching, smelling and choosing through their goods beneath the warmth of the sun; that i can fill my canvas bag with the day's pickin's and perhaps stick the tote into a basket on my bicycle and smile as i pedal my way back home

* every morning i greet the day with, at the very least, a sun salutation. 'hello. this is my morning stretch, i look to the day with a promise of hope.'

* i say goodmorning to you and we chat over breakfast or breathe in sync as we jog side by side

* i'm trying to make changes in my diet ... cutting back on animal products and increasing my produce consumption ... and that i love it.

* i read one book every month; and that by 'one book' i mean a grown-up chapter book as opposed the juvenile picture books i will love and cherish all my life

* i take the time to dance a little

* i am always around laughter, smiles, and happy faces; these i find ever always with children.

i want to take care of myself. and these are things i know i like. these are the things i'm sure i'll like.

so, i wanna give 'em a go.


- A

If I were to give your commencement speech...

This is your commencement. And as such, I want you to "commencer." This is the launching pad for all the things that are to come in your life. All the hard work that you have put in to receive this degree has now put you in a position to begin the rest of your life. Seems a bit ironic huh? All that studying, reading, writing, and poster-making has gotten you this: You stand at a fork in the road with many choices in front of you, but no matter what you choose, its going to be a long, difficult journey ahead of you. I could stand here and remind you that you'll always have me assisting you along the way, but I think you already know that by now, and this is not the time for that topic. Instead it is important that you reflect upon what it is that you have achieved and what opportunities all of this hard work will offer you.

You can now say that you have a college degree. You are a college graduate. How amazing and powerful are those words? And yet, what will you do from here? Will you tackle a bachelor's degree? Perhaps followed by a Master's? Or will you return to the class room and work your way towards having your own?

No matter which difficult and arduous path you choose to embark upon, you are now that much more prepared to follow it. If you have to prepare a spread sheet of grades, you know how to do that in MS Excel. When we get ourselves to Europe, your ability to understand the French will be much better. On trips into the forest, you can better appreciate all that goes into God's creations, the science behind all the everday processes that make the world turn. If you are called to speak before a large group (a class perhaps), you will have not only the confidence of possessing that degree, but all the skills you learned in public speaking. When you don't have time to fully read something, you have learned how to get by with just skimming. Your mind will be a little more open when dealing with people of different cultures, knowing some of the terrible conditions and treatment that certain races and religions have faced in our country. You can even put together a portfolio, in order to show all those principals who are going to want to hire you to have at their school.

While you will forget much of what you learned, I hope that there is one thing you take away from these years at NOVA, and that is your potential. This is a tremendous example of what you can achieve in life. I am sure there were times you thought you'd never get this degree, or that it wasn't worth it. Seeing you cross that stage, I know that it was worth every reading assignment, math problem, and poster. I want you to know that you are are someone special. Someone who has achieved something. Someone who has been recognized for that achievement. Most of all, someone who can (and will) achieve so much more.