Cindy's Life as She Knows It

 This was the last week of my summer break from my school job. I missed everyone and the structure, but I wouldn’t say I was ready to give up the freedoms of summer.  This was Dakota’s last week of summer break and also his last week of high school training camp…ever. Our first preseason game of his senior year is tomorrow.   This week I fulfilled my promise to take my oldest granddaughter, Natalie -age 12, to DC to take her time in the Natural History Museum so she could read all the things. We spent two whole hours in the gems and stones section while she soaked up every little bit of knowledge she could about what she was seeing. She was a pleasure to be around and I enjoyed being with her. On the way home we stopped to get Rebecca’s new glasses. She just went to the eye doctor and discovered she has very poor vision. I sat with her as she saw the world clearly for the first time and she was most amazed that the carpet was made of “strings” and not just a blob.  And on a very good n

 I have known it was coming. I have dreaded it for years. August 9,2023 Dakota started his senior year of football (#54💙) and there is a big countdown clock hanging over my head. I am determined to push it aside and enjoy the coming season and year, adding memories to the ones we have created in youth and high school football with the boys since 1999.   He is excited yet calm, takes care of himself and his things and even bought his own football stuff this year after working his summer job.  Today we paid for his parking spot and to “chalk it up” for his space the day before school starts. He didn’t want to do it so Kris and the kids and I will do it for him and surprise him. So many things to add to the calendar!  Tomorrow is his first scrimmage. He has to be on the bus at 7am for a 9am start time in LaPlata. Even though we have to be up and out early, these are the times I will miss the most. I love away games for the excitement of a different school, a nice meal after and my favori