Wow, it’s been a while. Much has happened. Much is changing. To start with, Rachel graduated high school. We are so proud of her and can’t wait to see what the future brings as she studies choreography at Bennington College. Susiy went to Arizona on a service project with George School to help at a school on a Navajo reservation and then at a homeless shelter. She said her favorite things she did were unloading the truck & moving a refrigerator. She does like using her strength! She enters her SENIOR YEAR this fall! Rocco wrapped up kindergarten and is spending the summer doing a little of this and a little of that.
And me? I start a new job this upcoming Monday as a triage nurse for a non-profit hospice. It’s a job I know and love and am happy to be returning to with a great team! I took a pay cut in accepting the job but the tradeoff is that I get to work from home in the evenings, have off every other week, and homeschool Rocco. WHAT????? Oh, maybe you didn’t know I’m a homeschooling mom from way back. But since TJ died I hadn’t had anyone to homeschool as my previous job made it impossible. So we go back to what was tried and true. I pray Rocco will enjoy and benefit as much as his older siblings did. They had each other and he has…well, he has me. But my philosophy then is what it will be again- we’ll do it until it’s not the right thing to do. We won’t know until we try. Rocco is excited to spend more time with me and to return to his co-op buddies. It will be an adventure for sure. TJ never wanted to NOT be homeschooled. He thrived and he grew in every way, even when the girls started public school in 2014 and was home without them. And that’s my hope for Rocco- to thrive and grow.
OK, now you are up to speed as Jacques Clouseau said in “The Pink Panther 2” (and as I like to joke with my sister.) I can now safely tell you about today. There are so many changes going on and it seems I’m my usual emotional mess. Rachel’s last National dance competition started today. It’s bittersweet. Everyone keeps asking, “What are you going to do with all your time now that there’s no dance?” Are they serious? First of all, taking her to dance doesn’t take that much time. Second, I have enjoyed every trip to the studio, every talk in the car, every tear wiped after a tough class, every competition cheered, every every every minute of it ALL. So don’t ask what I’m going to do with my time as if I’ve just been relieved of some chore, please and thank you. ~now that that’s off my chest……
The team is off to a great start! Rachel’s self-choreographed solo is Wednesday afternoon (live feed at 1:15 @ www.headlinerscompetition.com/live). This is her swan song as her AJ put it. But there will be a new song to sing, a new dance to create, a new costume to design…..for now though, she taps (literally. tap is coming on stage so I’m pausing….O.M.G. that was freaking a.ma.zing! I’m in tears. I’m going to be a wreck when she dances her solo.)
There’s also another layer of sadness. This is the third Nationals without TJ. The last one he attended was in 2015 and he had hoped to join the 2016 team. But seizures set in and it wasn’t to be.
TJ sporting his signature fedora watching Dance Explosion, July 2015.
I KNOW he’s here though. When I hit the beach yesterday with Rachel and Rocco it was the 30-month mark of TJ leaving this Earth. I tried to blow bubbles to him but the wind was making it a challenge. I asked him to send me a heart sometime this week. A few minutes later I looked down and found this one. And another and another and another. I think there were seven in all.
Hearts from TJ
Rachel and Rocco enjoying the sea breeze in Ventnor City
No, Rocco, we’re not getting all wet and sandy tonight. We’re just taking a nice walk on the beach.” Hah!
TJ is definitely here cheering on his sister’s final competition and the entire Elite team. He loved- loves- the team, the teachers, Miss Sharon. TJ didn’t just come to competitions with us, he took classes there and he loved his time spent there. Whether it was hip hop with the guys or jazz and ballet with the girls, he ALWAYS came out of class with a smile on his face. No matter how hard, now matter he was feeling. His hip hop class danced a recital number in his honor after he passed. It will always be a treasure in my heart as will the entire staff at EDA.
There are so many emotions wrapped up in this week. Rachel’s team career ending, TJ not dancing there any longer- obviously. It’s another part of MY life that is changing. And this isn’t about a mom living her life vicariously through her kids. This is about changes. More changes. And there are probably more on the horizon. It’s a lot for one gal to handle. For now I’ll focus on what’s in front of me. It’s AWARDS time (the first of many).
Updated update 🙂 Her solo won Elite Gold and hip hop also won Elite Gold and was invited to the Dance Off.
Awards update: Production won “high gold” and tap won “elite gold” and made it into the Platinum Circle Dance Off! WOOHOO- more updates as the week goes on 🙂
