folded wisdom

There They Go

Notes that process leaving home and the end of an era

View Joanna's Notes

View Theo's Notes

As unlike your senior year experience is as compared to my own, one thing is similar. Getting mentally prepared for going out on my own was tough. The things you do consciously and unconsciously to enable yourself to take that step are almost archet

This year is / will be full of little milestones; little points of light that illuminate the road you've traveled and hit at the road that lies ahead. Now, as always, it's a question of life in the moment. Taking care of business, trusting in the fu

This is your class year - 2006! Ring it in loud! Ring it in proud! After a long stretch of house guests it feels strange (good) to be sitting home by myself writing to you this morning. Essays, applications seem so "yesterday." Waiting, working, dan

Your hearts treasure lies and waits while you travel on the shimmering arc of your life's path. Is it the destination or the journey that matters most? A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Take it!

Fly away! And on your way - from time to time, stop and remember! You may have to fight for that extra point, for that extra base, for that drink of water. Be prepared! And when it's your turn - share.

Second half time now - downhill fast. Stay loose and keep your weight back. It's a long way to go to the last page of this chapter of (in) the book of life... of your life, so stay focused. I say the end of this chapter but there really is no "end"

Always there are things worth fighting for. Dreams worth striving for. Friends worth sharing. Strangers worth helping. Lovers worth loving. People worth forgiving. Never stop looking inside yourself for what you are really meant to do. Never stop lo

Taking steps to the door marked "Exit" on one side and reaching for the handle on the door on the other side marked "Entrance." There's quite a few steps left to take actually, classes, tests, breaks, softball, internships, an 18th birthday. Take al

You know, how easy it will be to deal with your goin' away to college is not the point for me right now. I'm sure it will be hard for me, but I think I understand something of the natural order of things and I will be able to deal with it. I'm more

None of us ever can know what is in store for us in our lives. It's just not possible to know the future. All we can know or seek to know, is our own selves and what goals will make our souls grow and expand to our fullest capacity. Sure we have dre

So U of A it is! I'm so happy for what I know will be a fabulous adventure of discovery and growth. There will be plenty of challenging work, new friends, new experiences, new ideas for exploration and fun in the sun as well. The selection process w

There's a fine line sometimes between happy and sad. As fine as a thought of leaving home. As thin as a plan for new friends in a new place. It's as plain as the nose on your face. I know. Everyone knows. The stages of life, the changes of venue, th

Work, like anything else you can think of, is what you make of it. (Picking up a theme here?) Go on out there and try things - that's how you learn about yourself and the world, but whatever you try give it your all, see what's really there, what th

Appreciate your life. Be thankful for your good fortune. Share your gifts. Help those around you to realize their own gifts. It's because we "stand upon the shoulders of giants" that we can see so far. Look for opportunities to grow. Look for opport

Its your world now - your choices, your dreams, your path to walk. I'm here, mom's here - whatever we have done we did because we thought it was best. Whatever we can continue to do we will - we always will. We won't change too much - what you see i

"The East" with its mass of people and history and old buildings - small and huge - dense, teeming, diverse, chaotic, frenzied is home - at least it's always been home for you - for us. (Me? I grew up all over the place - every 2 or 3 years a new to

What a metaphor a bridge is! The connection from one place, one state of mind, to another. The path that lets you crossover. Do you need a bridge this summer? What will it be? Summer itself? Time? People? A job? Your family? Walk on out ov

Working out with you last night was a little bit of a revelation to me. I realized how weak I have allowed myself to become - through laziness partly, but also through age - and I'm going to try to reverse that trend however I can. At one point we w

Lots to keep in mind, lots to work toward, lots to look forward to, lots to dream about in the second half of senior year. College, career options, baseball, classes, prom, spring break (training), friends, a job, money, a drivers license - what els

You know there's a book titled "Dear Theo"? It's a collection of letters written by Vincent Van Gogh to his brother. I read it years ago. Back in the days before telephones, computers, the internet, letter writing was the only way to communicate fro

(contd...) I woke up this morning thinking about my dad - trying to remember the times we did things together or talked with each other or that he helped me with anything and it was a painfully short list. My dad worked all day, came home, read the

What does a man do in uncertain times? In times of decision making? In stressful times of unknown future that seem so important, so necessary yet so confusing? Where's the compass set on your own true North? Where's your personal GPS? Your mapquest

Along about this time of year back in 1971, I was pondering my graduation and what on earth I was going to do after. There was no college counselor in my school. I didn't have a long time tutor who understood me. My father never asked me anything ab

The game goes on for another - what is it? Five or six months? Until June when you graduate from high school. Wow! Graduate! I walk around this house and I see picture after picture of you as the cutest little kid there ever was. What a beautiful sm

Thinking of your game today I realized I'm down to the fingers of one hand in games you have left to pitch for BC. A little sad to think about - for me anyway - I've really enjoyed all your efforts on the ball field - even the occasional failures ad

Tuesday morning after Senior Skip Day - what a world? I don't remember such a day when I was a Senior a zillion years ago. I wasn't playing varsity ball either. I do remember being a combination of anxious and excited as the year wore on over colleg

Decisions coming into focus in spite of a couple of remaining unknowns. A feeling of progress of "rightness" of the path is in the air (along with spring and baby grass and budding trees and an early sunbeam). I love this time of year - winter slowl

"Movin' on up!" Headin' on out! We celebrate the changes in our lives as we downshift and ease into the stream of whatever "next step" awaits us. There's a lot to celebrate - a lot of success - maybe some missed opportunities and second guess in the

I know you decided to take today off and rest after your shoulder injury yesterday, but I didn't want to miss the chance to tell you how proud I feel every time I stand next to you. I watch you and I'm filled with amazement at your abilities, your d

Today is the last regular day of class for the seniors. Is it my last note ever? I can't imagine that it will be. Maybe the last daily one (the simple words are the hardest to spell sometimes). Sometimes it's the simple things that are the most spec

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