bugsii

After the sweatiest 12 mile run of my life, I decided to make a quick trip up to Canton.  I went to Marcy’s yearly family gathering (called the LAUB) and had a nice time chatting with my BFF and some of her cousins, sticking my feet in the lake and watching lots of babies run around.  Then, I went to a cookout at Julie’s where she and Katie were happy to take some of my clothes that Plato’s didn’t want.  Eat it, Plato’s.  And, now I’m spending the night at my mama’s where Guido promised to make me a delicious breakfast in the morning.  It better be good Guido! 

What a nice day!

I worked like a maniac today on my exams today.  I wrote until I thought I might die (15 pages!), but I had something to look forward to, which was nice.  Dan found out about another free screening for a movie.  This one was The Kids Are All Right and it was really good, well acted and even made me cry at the end (which rarely happens).  In addition to all that, it had the added benefit of making me want to own a house again, buy a beat up old truck, and write a screenplay.  But, that will have to wait.  What made me cry at the end was when the family drops their daughter off at college and says goodbye.  I remember that…

Beth and I had been looking at colleges since we were at least 15.  We searched college catalogs as a hobby.  We trashed Canton every chance we got.  We couldn’t wait to leave, to go somewhere great, to start our own lives.  Where would it be?  California, Washington, DC, New York?  We had so much fun imagining how our lives would change, living in an amazing place and starting college where we would make new friends and major in something fantastic.  We were ready.  We were more ready than any two girls could be.  Beth decided first on American University in Washington and I made up my mind a little later.  It was so great to dream all summer and then finally pack up our rooms and load up the cars together to head to our new lives… a 6 hour drive, my dad and me in his purple lumina and Beth with her parents in my Aunt Mary’s borrowed van.  We arrived, we walked around, we unloaded, and then we went to the quad to say goodbye.  There we were hugging our parents one more time before they headed back home without us, but it wasn’t until they got in those empty cars and pulled away that we looked at each other with tears in our eyes.  This was it.  The moment when we got our freedom, but also the moment I realized that I didn’t live with my family anymore and that I would be sleeping in a new and unfamiliar place that night. I didn’t expect to feel that feeling.

The tears didn’t last too long though and before we knew it, we were getting around like pros and loving the life of a college student.  But there are lots of times that I still long for life just before that moment.  I think we all do.  When we had only minor responsibilities, when we were taken care of, where we were allowed to be kids and where we just fit.  You really don’t know what you’ve got till its gone.

Last night and today I was in Massillon for my niece, Katie’s, graduation from St. Mary’s School.  If you don’t know anything about Catholic school, you should know that 8th grade graduation is a BIG DEAL.  You’ve been at the same school, with the same small group of kids, for a long time, so moving on to high school and saying goodbye, is a moment.  I remember my own 8th grade graduation very well and I remember it fondly.

Thursday night is graduation and Friday morning is the Pass It On mass, where the 8th graders pass candles on to the 7th graders (I cried my eyes out at mine).  Fasten your seat belts and prepare for two very full days in pictures…

Thursday Evening- Graduation and Reception

St. Mary's on Graduation Night

Heading into the school to drop of some goodies for the reception afterward

Julie and Grandma Mokros waiting for the ceremony to start

Grandpa Guido waiting too!

The kids lining up for the procession

Katie on her way in

Katie getting her diploma!

Katie bringing her mom and dad a heartfelt letter

The graduating class of 2010

Hanging around at the reception

Katie's 100m dash record is posted!

A poster made for Katie by a 7th grader

Katie and a bunch of friends

Friday Morning- Pass It On and Awards Ceremony

Julie's house this morning before Pass It On mass

Katie and friends processing in

Marky (in the green and white stripes) watching his sister

"It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around will warm up to its glowing..."

Aunt Laurie and Mom after mass

Grandma and Aunt Laurie after mass

8th grade breakfast served by the moms!

Awards ceremony

Marky getting one of many awards

Katie getting the presidential award (among others!)

And, if you can believe it, there was more!  My mom and I went out to breakfast between Pass It On and the awards ceremony (ran into our family friend, Kelly) and THEN Julie joined us and we walked around downtown Massillon.  It was such a nice day and I wish I would have taken more pictures (there are a few more, plus the high res files, under the piictures tab)!  Congrats, Katie!!

Yesterday I woke up in Akron and went to bed in Cincinnati.  After Katie’s confirmation, Dan and I stayed the night with my mom.  She took the next morning off of work and made us pancakes.  Isn’t she nice?  Then, we headed back to Columbus so Dan and I could get some work done in the afternoon and then, we headed further south to Cincinnati for the weekend.  I’m running the half Flying Pig marathon on Sunday and we’re also celebrating mother’s day with Dan’s mom.  We’re getting pedicures together this afternoon (me, Dan’s mom, and Dan’s sister… not Dan).  This morning though, I’ve been at Panera eating and doing as much schoolwork as I can.  I feel like I’ve made pretty good progress, but I’m stuck on my analysis of my (soon to be very old) blog study.  How can you just say “Everyone’s sort of different,” or “Hey pal, it’s complicated?” That doesn’t seem like a finding.

I worked this morning and then Dan and I headed up for a quick trip to Canton for Katie’s Confirmation.  I was her sponsor.  Here we are outside of St. Mary’s.

Katie "Catherine"

It was a nice service, but I am very tired.  Night!

I am the confirmation sponsor for my niece Katie.  When I signed up, I received a sheet saying that I should take her out and chat one-on-one.  This morning before I left Canton, I got the chance to do that.  We went to Perkins and got some breakfast and had a really nice talk.  I’m so proud of my niece and who she is becoming.  I think I’d like to spend time like that more often.

Afterward, Dan and I loaded up the very full car.  It had become messy and unwieldy in the last week and half and I was no longer interested in packing things neatly.  We just threw it all in and went home.  It felt so nice to unpack and clean up my own house.  Dan and I ordered some food and watched movies for the rest of the night.  Ah, home.

This morning Julie took me out for my Christmas present, an outing with my sister (that would be Julie)!  First, we went to watch a Central basketball game, then we went out to lunch for some Japanese food, and then we went shopping.  We both ended up with some jeans from Ann Taylor and some smelly stuff from Bed, Bath and Beyond.  Good sales, good times!  Thanks, Julie!

Julie making good use of her chopsticks.

This evening, Dan and I headed up to Medina to visit Todd and Marcy.  They made us spaghetti and meatballs and we had a great time touring the new house, talking, exchanging gifts, and Dan and Todd even got to play some rock band together (they were a good duo).  Getting to hang out with Marcy always makes me wish that we still lived ten minutes away from each other and had 6th period together every day.  Oh, how times change.  Thanks, Marcy!

All grown up!

This morning, Dan and I slowly got up and hung around my mom’s house until it was time for the family party at Grandma’s.  Dan and I got there at around 1pm and the dining room was totally packed.  All nine remaining kids were there and lots of grandkids and great grandkids.  I was able to catch up with a few of my cousins.  Angelika, who is about my age, has a nine-month-old named Nicolas.  I got to tote him around for awhile and smell his nice fuzzy baby head.  It was awesome.

After lunch was served my Uncle Kent had a special announcement.  My Uncle Kent is retired from the army and his son Karl is currently in the army.  Apparently, Uncle Kent had written to see if Grandpa Richards had been overlooked in receiving any medals from his time in WWII.  He had written to the army over three years ago and just this August, he received a letter back stating that, sure enough, my grandfather should have received the bronze star for bravery.  I’m not sure of the circumstances, but the bronze star is the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces.  Uncle Kent presented it to my grandma and it had my grandpa’s name engraved on the back.  Karl had also put together a special frame with all of my grandpa’s medals and gave it to Grandma as well, explaining each one before handing it over.  There were quite a few tears shed as this is the first Christmas we celebrated without Grandpa at the head of the table.  “Grandpa would have been so pleased.  He would have been so pleased, he wouldn’t have been able to stand it,” Grandma said.

Karl presenting Grandma with Grandpa's medals.

For more pictures from the party, check out the piictures tab!

This morning, I got up early to do a five mile run.  The sun was just starting to come up and the neighborhood was silent, likely nestled in after an exciting day yesterday.  The air was nice and clear and cold and I enjoyed my post-Christmas run very much.  Afterward, Dan and I ate breakfast with Pete, Joyce, and Ray, packed up the car, and headed north.  We stopped in Columbus to drop off some gifts and pick up a few more before landing in Akron at my Mom’s house.  We were the first ones there, followed by Ben, Julie and company, and Mike and Kelly.  First we snacked and caught up, then we opened gifts and then we ate.  Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the day.  There are more under the piictures tab!

The Mokros family taking it all in!

Dan likes this one because he thinks I look ADD.

I made Ben an awesome book from our trip to Japan.

Mom loved this homemade ornament from Katie and Marky.

Katie with her Ikea finger puppets (for movie making).

Guido feeling excited and apprehensive about his new iPod.

Now we’re relaxing and watching some football with Guido.  Goodnight!

Giving thanks for my turkey trot.  For the nice weather.  For my working legs.  For my sister and my husband who came and walked with me.  For my bright yellow t-shirt.  For my hopefulness to win my age group.  For my humbling, not-even-close-to-winning place.  For the chance to sit in my old high school gym.  For the energy to pass that girl at the end.

Giving thanks for dinner preparations.  For looking through ads for black Friday.  For drinking coffee.  For peeling and chopping potatoes.  For the turkey in the garage.  For chatting with my mom.  For the hillbilly refrigerator (the car).  For watching Guido blaze a trail through the kitchen.  For waiting.  For the cheeseball and the pumpernickel bread and spinach dip.

Giving thanks for dinner.  For Nick and Tyler’s arrival.  For woodworking talk.  For Ben and Rachael.  For Matt.  For new friends and old.  For Julie, Mark, Katie and Marky.  For hugs.  For digging in.  For telling stories about crazy ladies (three in all).  For mashed potatoes and stuffing.  For losing at euchre.  For three kinds of pie, with whipped cream.  For a little more spinach dip.  For washing dishes.  For sitting down.  For more hugs goodbye.  For relaxing with football.  For going to bed stuffed.

For more pictures on the piictures tab.