An Excellent Joy (2 photos)
I have been blessed in so many ways in my life: God’s grace, good marriage and family, important friendships, interesting and meaningful career, opportunity to see and go places, and, I got to be a grandfather to three outstanding kids. But we are focused on one today, my grandson, Kellen, who officially graduates today from high school a few months early. He did so with highest honors. Kellen has become a solid, creative, disciplined and trustworthy young man. He has not completely settled on a college yet but industrial design is the direction of the next phase of school. I honestly could go on for several paragraphs about him, suffice it to say, I am proud to be his grandfather - every day.
The actual ceremony is tonight at 6 but includes only 10 people. Graduation is one person at a time.
This also has to do with TLT because of an upcoming adventure: C 2 C 2 C. In April Kellen and his dad, Geof, will travel to Wilmington, NC (along with his mom and sisters for the launch party) and from there head West. Like way west traveling on a mix of interstates and back roads across 11 states and ending up on the Santa Monica Pier, the end of the blacktop for the old Route 66. Cindy and I are flying to LA, renting a car and visiting several parks in CA, NV and AZ before heading back to LA to join them as they arrive. Cindy and Geof will fly back to Raleigh and Kellen and I will take 101 north toward San Francisco, across Nevada (on the “loneliest road in America”), Utah and the Salt Flats, WY, SD, and across the upper mid-West through Pennsylvania and stopping in Chincoteague, VA to park again next to the Atlantic and then back to Raleigh.
You can start today following C 2 C 2 C by accessing that heading on the menu bar. Before the trip begins there will be maps, and cars, and preparation. While on the way there will be regular photos and updates. Some of those will be the main photo of the day and the C 2 C 2 C section will still have more each day.
It will be a memorable trip and a special opportunity to spend time with Kellen that I will treasure.
This is a photo of a photo, one of his graduation pictures. Not the best translation of a really nice photograph.
Online school completion is not quite the same as leaving the building for the last time with all your friends but meaningful just the same. The text on the screen reads: “You Left the Meeting” and 12 years of school ends.