On this day last year, we were in the midst of what I called the “Summer of Uncertainty” in my blog. I seldom left the house last summer. My ongoing feelings of internal turmoil, fear, and isolation still echo in my heart. Sometimes when I think back to the days of 2020, I feel angry. Other times, I look back and feel relieved that the days are behind us. Today, I look back, and I appreciate how far we have come.
On this specific day last year, micro concerns filled my thoughts. All three of my cats had hidden from workers that came to the house to fix the driveway and sidewalk. They slowly returned one by one. My heart filled with love and relief as I watched each one return and greet each other. On this day last year, my fur kids were the only thing that I wrote about. I did not write about the pandemic, the mental health crises erupting in our nation, the deep divide of right vs. left ideals, or the stress of wondering if school would start, and what the pandemic might mean for Brainy Bird’s post-high school endeavors. While I did not write about these things, these things were far from out of mind.
Fast forward 365 days, and the day feels incredibly normal. These days, I live in one of the best chapters of my life.
The boys did get to return to school in the fall for in-person learning. Before 2020, I would not have appreciated being able to go to school. Never again will I take that for granted. Now, not only do we anticipate school being open for in-person learning, but school is set to open on time, and Brainy Bird is set to attend all his classes at the University of South Carolina in person.
In the 365 days that transpired since this day last year, Brainy Bird fulfilled his dream of going to college out of state. On this day last year, I could not have imagined a better college opportunity for Brainy Bird than the one that that lies in store for him. He will be part of the honors community, the number one honors college among public schools in the US. He will be surrounded by kids like himself, each with a unique set of skills.
He begins college beyond prepared. If he has not already realized it, when he sits down with the other honors kids for his first calculus 3 or digital logic class, which are both sophomore level courses, he will gain a full appreciation how incredibly well prepared he is for college. Yes, he put the work in at Tomball Memorial High School to get where he is, but his teachers made the sacrifices and commitment to providing him the opportunity to be where he is today.
Brainy Bird awaits his test scores for his last round of AP classes. If he achieves the scores that he expects, he will start college classified as a junior. In 365 days, the kid went from a world of uncertainty as he entered his senior year of high school, to being in an honors program as a junior. It is incredible how much he has grown emotionally and matured this past year.
Right now, I am sitting on the back porch. The heat is incredible. Potatoe would prefer to be inside, but the loyal pooch lays next to me. All three of the kitties are napping inside, in the same spots they have been in since breakfast. I remember how worried I was about them on this day last year.
Brainy Bird and Little Chirp are both in New Braunfels. Brainy Bird just finished his first week at Slumber Falls Camp as an official counselor. I cannot wait for him to return and tell me all about it. He has all sorts of this and that’s to do for his Top Scholars and Stamps Scholars programs, and in preparation for his move to college. I figure that it can all wait 24 more hours, while Brainy Bird gets to have some special time with his little brother, little cousin, and his aunt and uncle.
Little Chirp has been in New Braunfels hanging out with his aunt and uncle and little cousin all week. He heads to Slumber Falls camp tomorrow evening, while Brainy Bird heads back to Houston.
I am doing something this evening that I did not do at all last summer, I am going to a pool party. I am pretty sure that the party even has live music. I can hardly wait. Something that I took for granted before the pandemic is now something that I appreciate and deeply look forward to.
It is time to go inside and get ready for the party. That is something I have not said in a long time. It is the simple things in life.