5 And A Beagle
"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans." John Lennon
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
A Little Reflection
#4 headed off this morning on a retreat with her grade 12 class. The last one for them as a group before they graduate and move on in June. As it was when her brother went on the same retreat 3 years ago, the school had asked for family and friends to send letters of love and encouragement called Palankas for the students to read while they're at the retreat. Although we'd been down this road before and the school sent out a reminder about a month ago, there we were in the last week, putting out the request to all and sundry. Thank goodness ours is not a large family, so there weren't too many people to contact, but just like last time, we missed the deadline and had to scramble getting the letters in with only a few days to spare. I suspect the staff will heave a collective sigh of relief and wipe their brows when the last of the Parolini's leave the school's hallowed halls in three years time. But I also suspect there will be another family, equally famous for its procrastination, that will take our place.
We sat at the table on Sunday night, #2 and I, and put together our thoughts and wishes for darling #4. Compressing 18 years into a card isn't easy.
Although the Palankas are to be kept a secret from the students, the majority seem to know of their existance and #4 was no exception. I wonder if it had something to do with me talking about them at a family dinner a year or so ago and realizing once it was too late, that she was at the table. Not one for open displays of emotion, unless you count frustration with parents and siblings as an open display of emotion, #4 has informed me that she will not get teary eyed when she reads the letters.
I have to wonder.
I hope they all take the time to read carefully through their letters to know their family and friends love them, to know what their fondest memories are, to know the accomplishments they're most proud of and the things they desire for their future.
And if they feel a sniffle or two, well, that's a good thing.
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We sat at the table on Sunday night, #2 and I, and put together our thoughts and wishes for darling #4. Compressing 18 years into a card isn't easy.
Although the Palankas are to be kept a secret from the students, the majority seem to know of their existance and #4 was no exception. I wonder if it had something to do with me talking about them at a family dinner a year or so ago and realizing once it was too late, that she was at the table. Not one for open displays of emotion, unless you count frustration with parents and siblings as an open display of emotion, #4 has informed me that she will not get teary eyed when she reads the letters.
I have to wonder.
I hope they all take the time to read carefully through their letters to know their family and friends love them, to know what their fondest memories are, to know the accomplishments they're most proud of and the things they desire for their future.
And if they feel a sniffle or two, well, that's a good thing.
Labels: Palankas
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