Chapters in our lives

I must have been told a dozen times yesterday that high school graduation marks the start of a new chapter.  Indeed, this is true.  Congratulation Mallory, Drew and Ryan on your graduation and for making your parents so proud they don't know what to do with themselves. 

2010 indeed seems to have become a amjor turning point for the Dalpiaz clan.  We are blessed with new babies Miles and Dylan.  Amy has a job in her field in an economy that doesn't hold out much hope for such.  If I'm reading Facebook right, Brad has also landed a job in his field--our two recent college graduates.  James and Bobbie have decided to hang up their school keys.  Each household celebrates its own milestones along the way and another chapter begins. 

In order for a new chapter to begin, one has to end.  We have lost beloved family members, which often creates an opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with each other in a new light.  Even under these circumstances, we are very fortunate.  Very fortunate.  Bless you all.

Father's Day 2010

This Father's Day seems especially poignant this year.  The Dalpiaz clan is experiencing the absolute joy of welcoming Miles and Dylan to the world.  At the same time, Scott, Angela, Marguerite, Jimmy and Jean are dealing with the unique black hole created on the first holidays since the passing of their loved ones.

Of course, this joy and grief are shared by immediate and extended family members like the ripples on the pond when a pebble is dropped.  The ripples are deep and most pronounced at the center and fade as they widen but the affect the entire pond. 

So we welcome the new dads to the fold--Ron and Brian!  And we honor those whose legacy lives on in our other family dads Robert, James, Thomas, Steve, Scott, Bob, Jake, Jimmy, Bill.  Have a great day!

Gobsmacked

I don't really know what "Gobsmacked" means exactly but it sounds just right for how I have been feeling since James' concert. It was an amazing evening filled with love. Words truly escape me as they seem so very inadequate so I'll let pictures tell some of the story. I just didn't have the strength to lift my camera during Ryan's tribute to his dad, so that will just have to live on in the memories of those in attendance. For those of you that made the journey, we feel truly blessed. I'm so happy you were able to be there to bear witness to your parents' legacy.



Welcome to the world Dylan! You've been born into a wonderfully warm and loving family. Congratulations Monet and Brian. We can't wait to meet the newest Dalpiaz!

Storm Front Moving In

As I write this, a fast moving storm front is barreling through Broome County.  One minute the sun is shining and the next, leaves turn their backs in anticipation of the torrents of rain coming along in the next few moments.  And the blue sky returns.....for a bit. 

Welcome to my world lately.  Even under the circumstances, the weather seems more stable than day to day activities at 2682 Colesville Road recently!  It's a roller coaster ride but we're enjoying it immensely.  I suspect many of you are also on a similar ride these days, so I'll just post some catch up news for you to enjoy on your own schedule. 

Ryan left for his senior trip early this morning.  They have renewed a Harpursville tradition by going to Washington DC for their trip.  James is currently sitting in the SNY box at Citifield and he's in heaven as you can imagine.  I was left here to deal with the storm front, but that's OK.........

Friday was our annual end of year celebration fondly known as Moving Up Day (or MUD--a terrible acronym to use).  James was honored at the high school assembly with a slideshow presentation and yearbook dedication.  The middle school yearbook was also dedicated to him!  I don't believe the same person has ever been awarded both yearbook dedications.  He was very touched and so were the students and teachers.  It was a grand tribute.  James was gracious and your parents would have burst with pride.

Moving Up Day also brings some end of year awards to the seniors.  I'm tearing up writing this as it is a great honor that Ryan was named the male Babe Ruth Award winner.  This award is chosen by the staff to acknowledge one senior boy and one senior girl and I'll let the certificate describe it for you:

It's a great honor and tribute to his time as a Harpursville student.  He often wondered why he rarely received other sorts of recognitions along the way and I hoped someday he would learn that it's those little steps along the way that build up to the big overall picture.  This was a great affirmation of that philosophy. 

Amy LOVES her job and it's a great relief that she is employed at all and that she seems happy in Erie PA.  She hosted breakfast with the orangutans, passed the test (whatever this could be) to handle hissing cockroaches, and fed the giraffes.  It was a challenge getting her there and set up but it's working out for her too. 

I've been buffeted around by these winds of change and so far have been able to land on my feet to face the next round!  I hope the same especially for those of you with graduates in the house, those of you with new babies to hug, those of you with retirement to celebrate and those of you celebrating the end of the school year for yourselves and for your children!