Graduation

As his name was called, he stood up and blithely walked up to the stage. The wizened Dean extended his right hand and he took Dr. Drayton's hand firmly and looked him straight in the eye and smiled broadly.

He then turned to face the cheering crowd that was filled with peers and family and waved. As they stood to their feet and applauded his success he motioned for them to keep it coming with a brilliant smile that takes your breath away. As hearts skipped beats, the arm of his older brother was clenched tightly by his frail mother. As the good doctor covered the loving, wrinkled hand of his mother with his huge palm she looked up into his beaming eyes. She knew that finally this was the moment she had worked and prayed for from the moment she became a mother. In this moment of complete happiness and exuberance, she remembered the words that would change her destiny forever, "You are going to be a mother..." The remainder of the examining physician's sentence was never heard...

At the end of thirty two weeks and a textbook labor and delivery a son was born. He was healthy, handsome and perfect. He had a head full of black, silky curls and golden skin. His eyes were the most striking thing as they were huge and wide open as he took note of everyone and everything in his environment. The hospital nurses fell in love with this baby and so did the family. There were flowers and presents, hugs and crying. This child was a true blessing to his family but mostly to his mother. Four years later another son was added to their world of discovery. This labor and delivery was extended and difficult. If not for the intervention of Aunt Carolyn the mother and the baby would not have made it. Aunt Carolyn was the savior that day and blessed by the mother all the days of her life.

Through the many years the mother and her sons have persisted through ear infections, babysitters from the pits of Hades and child support hearings. They endured grade school bigots in the form of teachers and visits to the assistant principals' office and summer school classes. They sailed through detentions, expulsions, and conduct cuts. The little family has endured first falls, first crushes, and first loves. They survived final exams, driving lessons, dance lessons, etiquette lessons and meetings of every kind.

They have called twenty six different places home:

1. Heron (Ninth Gate of Hades)
2. Watonga (Roach City)
3. Cy-Fair (Hicksville)
4. Westpark (Party Central)
5. Katy (Town of the High School bands)
6. Bammel (Back to Back Cowboys)
7. Sunnyside (Povertyville)
8. Calhoun (Collegetown)
9. Beltway 8 (The gateway)
10. Westheimer (The place to be)
11. Bexley (All children no parents)
12. Klein (Ranchers galore)
13. Missouri City (Misery City)
14. 5th Street (The heart of the city)
15. Deerlake (Retirement home)
16. FM 1960 (Deers stopping morning commutes)
17. Cypress (More skunks than people)
18. Aster (Must be bilingual)
19. Hayden (Nerves needed)
20. Myrtlewood (Best neighbors)
21. Wallingford (Naked neighbors)
22. Pinehurst (Wierdville)
23. Shoreline (Echoes galore)
24. Roosevelt (Nothing Presidential)
25. North Ridge (Very Raw)
26. Vista (Coyotes Included)

They have lived in three different states and 6 different cities. The oldest attended 20 different schools and the youngest attended 14 different schools. Through each interaction positive or not so positive a slice of life was taken and added to the family. Each maniac and benefactor left a bit of themselves with the family and the family became stronger, wiser, bolder and more confident. They learned in the school of life that what you survive does not make you weak but makes you stronger. Everything you survive verifies that you are strong enough to handle what comes next. They learned that you never take the word of a known enemy as gospel. They learned to give back to their community no matter how small and many times anonymously. They learned to publicize the good and ignore the evil. The learned to discern true friends and honor family and enjoy all lessons learned whether in sunshine or during rain fall. They learned that you are polite to strangers and even more hospitable to family and friends. One day at a time, they learned that loyalty; honor and love are priceless and should never be taken for granted. No matter what is gained in life, you take care of it and keep it through a proper education.

As the baby of the family returned to his seat and the next name was called, the mother and her eldest son sat quietly throughout the remainder of the ceremony, after all they are just one tiny American family, surviving and thriving in style and grace despite tremendous odds.