Family Milestones - Adventure Awaits!

 Twenty five years ago we were waiting to have our first child.  All the worry, anxiety, anticipation, fear, exhaustion of pregnancy ending in a summer full of 100 degree days that are rare in Oregon. Which is why I found myself in an un air-conditioned house wondering if this baby would ever come. He was only a few days late but it seemed like an eternity.

He did arrive after 24 hours of labor and good enough sized 8 lbs and 8 ounces. Then starts the worrying and the day to day adventures. Colic, first teeth, colds, falls, crawling, walking, talking.

You wonder if they will ever do this or that and then when they do, you think, "Why was I in such a hurry for that to happen?"

You go back to work, they go to daycare. Then you trust some teenager with your precious baby while you try to go out to dinner, only to talk about them the entire time and come home early because you can't think of anything else to do.

Kindergarten, first communion, sports, middle school band, plays, choir, on and on the milestones stacking up. Good grades, missed assignments, poor decisions, tears, driver's license, jobs, high school graduation. Moments of supreme pride, self doubt and tearful disappointment.

College. With all the things. Parties, bars, roommates, first time independent decisions far from home or any sort of safety net. - Oh yeah, classes. 

Military boot camp, cars, more decisions, more work, more jobs, more classes, covid, deployment. All of these things a parental emotional roller coaster with us wearing out our rosary beads as an adult life emerges.

This is how we found ourselves making the 1 1/2 hr drive to see our firstborn graduate from college. We left in plenty of time to make the trip, pick up child #1 and get to the arena where the doors opened for first come first serve seating an hour prior to the 1pm ceremony. I wanted to try and get a family picture since all children were present and we had a built in photographer with kid #2's boyfriend.

Roughly 30 miles from our destination interstate traffic came to a complete halt. We had just passed an interchange and were at the point of no return to utilize it. We were however situated at the end of an entrance ramp. It only took about a minute for us to decide to drive up the on ramp and strike out to try and bypass whatever was causing this back up. Enter online navigation. My husband, our youngest and I were in the truck. #2 and her boyfriend were following. We turned on the first road that would take us around and then back to the interstate. #2's navigation took them a different route. - Thank goodness.

Roughly 15 min later we were stuck on an unmaintained road, heavy rain overnight making the 4WD totally ineffective. We watched as other cars and trucks came over the hill. My husband trying to warn them away as he walked to the nearest farm in search of rescue. When a second truck buried their front end in the roadside ditch ahead of us we phoned #2, told her to get in touch with #1 and continue to graduation and secure seats. 

Confidently calling AAA in case there was no one home at the farm we were notified that "due to increased activity in our area" we could expect a tow in 4 HOURS! To say the least, not the words we were hoping to hear. 

Karmically rewarded for leading ok lives the farm was found occupied however his tractor was at another location and we had already proven more than adequately that a pick up would not suffice.

Back at the truck.....the other castaways of the muddy road had recovery boards. (www.usactiontrax.com) Their vehicle was too deep in the ditch to use them, so they brought them to us. 20 minutes later a lot of mud, prayers, crossed fingers, and possibly some swearing we were on our way. A tractor en route for our new acquaintances. 

Having started out the day with plenty of time we were now last minute arrivals. #3 and I were unceremoniously ejected from the vehicle and hurried on foot to the arena. #2 and her boyfriend had secured seats. Whew. Hubby parked the truck and arrived slightly mud spattered but able to signal to #1 that all were present.

As he approached the stage, we anticipated the reading of his name, excited to see it on the big screen as he shook the hand of some academic official. Watching with cameras poised to take photos of him crossing the stage there it was, "Congratulations Graduate". At least we were all there to see.