The Eighth Grade

Last night my Facebook status read: "tonight he's graduating from middle school, wasn't it just like last week that he started kindergarten? time flies..."

I know that graduating from middle school does not rank up there with college or high school, but it's still a milestone. In 3 months Juan Ma will be a freshman in high school and in 4 years we'll be back, sporting our Fighting Irish green and gold just like I did over 10 years ago.
This was my high school graduation day - May 20, 1999.

It's amazing to sit back for a moment and think about this little baby that was born almost 14 years ago. I remember June 13, 1996 as if it were yesterday:

Waiting for the doctor to come out and say Juan Ma is here! [please excuse the outfits]

I'm so proud of him for being the boy that he is and eagerly yet bitterly looking forward to the man that he'll soon become.

Just for the record I do have to tell that Juan Ma showed up to graduation with no jacket and no tie. All the boys were wearing a jacket and/or a tie. He was upset because he chose not to do so. When his name was called we were all in shock to see him walk up wearing a jacket. Smart child - he borrowed a neighbor's to cover up during the important part.