Scheduling

Robby is ecstatic to be returning to his enrichment school today. They had two weeks off for the semester break, and it is obvious that he has missed his friends. He has been counting down the days until classes resume, and today is the big day. 

In addition to missing his friends, I suspect that his eagerness to return to school has a lot to do with our espionage weekend. He has been keeping a notebook of everything that he wants to share with his friends and his teacher. I knew that he would enjoy the experience, but I think I underestimated the impact. 

Yesterday we had to finalize his schedule for his Junior (gulp) year. Robby was nearly giddy when he discovered the elective exploring all things national security. From all of the three letter agencies to private contributions, this course explores all aspects involved with keeping the nation safe. He was delighted to learn that the class was not full and that he could participate. 

In addition to his core classes, next year he will be taking Military Strategy, Spy Games, 3-D History and National Security, and Photo Manipulation.  I am definitely seeing a theme develop. It looks like my Koopa might be finding his way.

7 years

7 years ago my Dad passed away. Only 3 months passed from the time I heard of his diagnosis to the moment of his death. Pancreatic cancer is a cruel and gruesome way to die. 

I look back on that time and my heart breaks. I'm grateful that I was able to spend so much time with him during his final weeks. Caring for somebody in their final days is a privilege that I never fully understood until I had the honor. Although I will never forget those weeks, that time is not what I remember when I think of my Dad. 

His memory remains alive and strong with the kids. The Cousin Crew loves nothing more than hearing Candy Papaw stories. They squeal with giggles and laughter with every story, even when they have already heard them a hundred times. I am sad that remembering new stories is becoming increasingly difficult. Every fresh tidbit feels like gold that has been mined from my childhood.

I love that his memory is so strong with his grandchildren. Timmy will have no direct memories with my Dad, but he talks about his Candy Papaw as if he knew him well. I know that my Dad would be so proud of all of the grandkids, and I am sure he is smiling down upon them.

My Dad always encouraged me to be the person to bring treats into the office. He swore that "the person who brings the donuts is always the last one to be thrown under the bus."  Last night, in honor of my Dad, Timmy helped me bake cookies for Scott to take to school. 

I love you Dad. I miss you. I hope you are proud.

Cherry Blossoms

 The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, adding a beautiful layer to the landscape. When I first moved to Virginia I was surprised to discover how many cherry blossom trees were used in the landscaping around houses, shopping centers and roads. Virginia in the Spring is certainly beautiful. 

The trees are beautiful when they are in full bloom. Unfortunately I am forced inside every time those pink little blossoms open their petals. It turns out I'm allergic to cherry blossoms. While everybody else is strolling through neighborhoods and snapping photos, I'm wiping my nose and trying to blink the sting from my eyes. 

Robby and Timmy have both developed allergies to cherry blossoms. Poor Hamlet's eyes were bloodshot yesterday. He was miserable with a runny nose and itchy face. Robby was sneezing nonstop every time he walked outside. I guess they will learn to appreciate cherry blossoms from a distance.

Today we are supposed to have rain showers. I know most people in this area are hoping that the showers stay away, or that the rain is light and gentle. I'm rooting for a torrential downpour to wash those little balls of poison off their branches.

Home Again

 Last night, our little family went to bed under the same roof. Timmy and Friend were staying with my Mom since Thursday. We had planned for them to stay with her until Saturday, when Scott was going to go and pick them up. Unfortunately, Scott's car ended up in the repair shop for an extended period of time and he was left without transportation. Timmy seemed to be having fun during his Nana time, so we opted to extend his vacation until yesterday evening.

I have no doubt that Timmy (and Friend) had a fun Nana getaway, but I was happy when I could finally hop into the car to bring them both home. The house was so quiet in his absence! Timmy was all smiles when he saw me in the parking lot and greeted me with the biggest hug ever. Friend, who I thought would be all wag, was more reserved. His tail didn't wag and he didn't smile (yes, my dog can smile) until we walked into the house.

Today we will try to get back to normal, although in all fairness I know that is a tough ask. It is hard to get back into the grind after a few days away. I think we all needed our little getaways!

Spy Weekend

This past weekend was exhilarating and memorable. It had been a long time since Robby and I were able to slip away for a mother/son adventure. When I heard about "Espionage weekend" in Washington DC, I knew that it was the perfect opportunity to get away with him. Robby has been taking a spy class for three years and, after reading the flyer, I quickly realized that this opportunity was perfect for him.

Thursday evening my Mom met me to pick up Timmy and Friend. The plan was for her to keep them until Saturday morning, when Scott would pick them up and bring them back home. Unfortunately Scott's car ended up in the repair shop, leaving him without a car and stranded at home. Timmy's quick trip to his Nana's house morphed into a long weekend away. (My Mom was willing to drive Timmy home, but they were having fun and he wanted to stay longer.)

While Timmy was at his Nana's and Scott was stranded at home, Robby and I were spending a weekend away in DC, engrossed in all things spy related. Because of the early morning starts and late afternoons, I decided to turn it into a little vacation by reserving a hotel room. I absolutely hate driving in the city and was happy to avoid it as much as possible.

Thursday evening we settled into our hotel room, went out for dinner and prepared for the class. On Friday morning we woke up early and headed to our first session. The morning session was spent learning techniques and hearing incredible (but true) stories about modern day espionage. In the afternoon we had private access to the Spy Museum. (If you have never visited the Spy Museum, I highly recommend that you add it to your bucket list.)

On Saturday we were paired with current employees of "3 letter agencies" for a surveillance experience. We learned surveillance techniques, both on foot and in a car, before we hit the streets to give it a try. Throughout the day we rotated through all of the agents, ensuring that we all had experiences with various aspects of surveillance. 

We tracked our target through the streets of Georgetown, across the aisles of stores, around the beltway and through the streets of Virginia. Thankfully the agents drove. (Have I mentioned how much I hate driving in DC?) 

On Sunday we had a "debrief" where we analyzed our surveillance results, discussed possibilities and asked questions. My heart jumped when Robby started to ask about educational requirements for various careers. I know that he is coming to that age, but hearing him discuss future careers took me off guard. There is no doubt that my little Koopa is growing up quickly.

The experience was fascinating! Hearing the chatter on the radios (and being able to provide our own tidbits of intel) was an experience that both Robby and I will always remember. Robby, who is drawn to intelligence and espionage activities, was in his element. The agents were so generous with their knowledge (unclassified of course) and happily answered all of Robby's questions. I know that this experience will continue to shape him going forward.