Yesterday. I woke up. I cuddled little girls, tried to get them to eat. I put on a happy dress, a dress with flowers. I dug around for waterproof makeup. I knew I’d need it. And I did.
She walked across the stage. My tiny creature. My first. She wore a little gown. A little cap. One with a tassel she’s allowed to keep forever. A number, golden, plastic, attached to the tassel: 2012.
She walked across the stage. She shook her teacher’s hand. She collected a diploma. She smiled.
She graduated.
And I sat in a seat. And my eyes brimmed with tears. And I clapped furiously and smiled hard and took pictures. So many.
When it was time, we found her onstage. I scooped her up, twirled her around, whispered words into her ear: I’m so proud of you.
Lunch. Ice cream sandwiches. A new toy. Skipping with little sisters home. Home.
Another day.
A big one.
*
Today. Today it’s my turn. To graduate.
After working hard for many months with a thoughtful and talented friend and colleague, we are finally here. And I am emotional and excited as I don my invisible cap and gown, and walk across that invisible stage. But also. Also I am smiling an ice-cream-sandwich-new-toy-class-of-2012 smile. And skipping home.
Home.
Here we are.
Again.
Anew.
Welcome.
{Linking up today with Just Write. The amazing Heather left me a comment on this feather ball post years ago when I was a rookie blogger and it absolutely made my day.}
Thank you all so much for reading my words for the past three-plus years. I am so excited to have this new corner of the cyber-cosmos and very much hope you like it here! (What do you think? Come on… go ahead and ease my wild Aidan-esque insecurities about making this big change…)
Thrilled to see the new site. Amazing, Aidan. Just amazing.
Congrats, friend. Can’t wait to come everyday to your new corner of the cyber-cosmos.
Hey you. So so fitting that you are my very first comment, babe. Makes me smile. It’s odd perhaps but I didn’t really sleep last night just knowing that this change was afoot. But today I am up and at ‘em and feeling good, so good, about this new place, and this new phase. Yay!
Congrats Aidan! I love the new site. It’s crisp, clear and full of life. Sometimes change is invigorating, isn’t it?
Thank you so much, Rudri!! Yes, change is invigorating. For sure. Even if it is also a wee bit scary, too. xox
New site looks great!! Congratulations!!
Thanks, Janet! Hope you are well. We’ve both come a long way from that little office we shared in that big building, huh? xox
Congrats on going live. All the hard work has paid off. The site looks great. On to the next graduation for my wife who is always in search of her next cap and gown.
Thanks, babe. No more super late nights picking colors and fonts and generally obsessing about these new digs. And you are right; I do love my caps and gowns. Pretty sure that yesterday was my favorite graduation day ever though
Congratulations , the new site looks great. And congratulations to your little creature
Thanks so much, Ayala! Yesterday was so cute and meaningful. I took about a thousand pictures of my tiny graduate, but very few were sufficiently anonymous. I like the one I used though – the poetic tangle of her hair and that tassel… Means a lot that you are here today!! xox
I love that picture
these are such special moments.
Love being here today, thank you.
xoxo
I LOVE IT!! I’ve been reading since pretty close to the beginning, and I think the design totally captures what you’re doing. Who did the redesign?
Thank you, Laura. I love it too but I am a shred biased
Jena Starkes and her team at Peniferella Creative did the original ILI and this redesign as well. She is a genius! http://www.peniferella.com/
(So happy you like it and think it captures what I’m doing. A high compliment indeed.)
Congratulations on the new site, it looks spectacular. It seems to me like the perfect blend of your beautiful not-so-distant blogging past, and your bright and exciting blogging (and authoring!) future. Looking forward to daily visits to this “new corner of the cyber-cosmos”
Thank you so much, Sam! Your words mean a great deal, particularly on this “graduation” day.
Congrats A! I know how hard you have been working on this and it looks fantastic. Can’t wait to explore all the new nooks and crannies
Lylylyx11
Thanks, C. Happy exploring! LylylyX11. (Always.)
Love the new site!! Lots of luck…..
Thanks so much, Hope! And thank you for the very sweet link on Facebook. Means a ton. xox
Yay! Love the new look. Sometimes a new layout is all it takes to clear up some headspace and start anew. I redesigned my blog a few months back and, even though it’s not a huge change, it was enough for me to feel like I was beginning anew. And now you are, too!
Meg – you are totally right. Newness can be very encouraging and inspiring. Feeling particularly jazzed today. Btw, I love the newer iteration of your blog. Beautiful.
Visiting you from Heather’s E O and so very glad I did. Beautiful new place your have here. Lovely just lovely. Its fantastic. And your post. Well my oldest is graduating from college in a few and I am not sure how the emotions will roll. That is to say, I can relate to these milestones. I will look forward to seeing you again around and about, likely at The E O and elsewhere. Happy housewarming and blessings. I believe I visited you at your previous place. This inspires me. Thanks. And the post today, well wonderful too!!
Thanks, Elizabeth! So happy you popped over from Heather’s place. Isn’t she the best? I really remember that first day when she left me a comment SO clearly. I was in my first months of blogging, was at my in-laws, and checked comments late at night and saw her name and smiled so big. Now I consider her a friend/blogeague and am so happy to meet her friends… Look forward to checking out your blog. Thanks again for your words on this big day for me.
Well done. It looks wonderful and I’m having fun clicking around and getting situated. Congrats to Big Girl on her rite of passage, and to you on yours!
Thank you, Gale. For your kind wishes and words today – and all days. As you know, I have been dreaming up this site for a while (remember when I sent you my own “mock up” months back?) and I’m so happy to be here, settling in. And now that I won’t be up til the wee hours picking colors and fonts and generally obsessing over design, I will have more time to read your always-lovely blog and others’. Yay! Hope you and the boys are well. xox
Congratulations. I love the new look, the new branding, all of it. Way to re-invent your self.
Thank you, Lucy!! It was a lot of work, but it feels absolutely worth it
Wow! I think it looks great. I know it must be the result of some very hard work. Congratulations to you and to your daughter. Enjoy this summer with her and your other two!
Thanks, Jacqueline. Cannot believe it is summer, can you? So appreciate your words today.
Lovely Aidan, I like that your new cyber home has a wall. Well done and remember the water proof make up when your big girl starts big school.
Thanks so much, Vivian! Yes, am thinking it might be time to invest in a hearty stock of waterproof makeup because this parenthood thing is tricky business.
Congrats, Aidan! The site looks beautiful (and reading your posts about the last day and graduation made me well up at my desk ALL OVER again).
xoxoxo
Thanks, you. It has been such a tremendous treat to get to know you guys this year. That our little girls will be together for SO many years makes me smile so big and feel okay with all the change that is afoot. Cheers to going forth unafraid, right? xox
Congrats on your new site! I love the picture you chose of your “little” Big Girl on her big day. As I looked at it I couldn’t help thinking some day a long time from now you may take a very similar picture with her long hair hanging out of a bigger hat and tassel. Thanks for sharing these moments. I haven’t ventured into the world of having children yet but your posts make me look forward to it so much when the time comes.
Love your new site and look forward to being a “super fan” as it evolves
And a first for me today- I linked up my own blog for the first time to my name on here too.
Oh, AG. I am SO happy you linked up your blog. I am so looking forward to clicking over and hope my readers do too. Yay! And I love the idea of taking a similar shot of my biggest girl at her next graduation, and her next. I love that my posts make you excited about having kiddos one day. Honestly, I think there is so much out there that makes parenthood seem grim and unwieldy and I am happy to paint a realistic, but loving portrait of this, my most important role. As always, so happy to have you here reading! xox
Love the new site, Aidan – congrats! I recently redid my blog as well… fresh starts really are invigorating. xox
Thanks, Rebecca! Look forward to spending some time at your renovated place. So random, but I think you were the one who introduced me to Lena Dunham? You wrote a post about her film Tiny Furniture, I believe? Anyway, I am obsessed with Girls. Are you watching? That girl is smart. Hope you are well!
Love love love the new look! Congratulations on the launch! xo
Well Done….Much Luck going forward.
Thank You So Very Much for all your posts.
Looks great! Congrats. Now I need to make some time to explore.
Hi!!!! I am so happy to see you here on this day. Means so much. I hope you do explore and that you like what you see. I know you know this, but you have been a source of major encouragement for me, so thank you. Again. And again. xox
Hi Aidan,
The new digs look great. Enjoy them!
Thanks, Jack!!!