Graduation

Cameron is graduating from High School today.

He just turned 18 about 6 weeks ago. Hard to believe really, as it seems it couldn't have been much before that when he was just born. But it has been 18 years, and now he is leaving behind the safety and security of childhood and is taking his first steps out into the adult world. He's not moving out tomorrow, and the change doesn't happen all at once. But it is really happening, and today is one of those days when you stop and take note; a day you publicly say, "this is a point of change."

This is a real graduation. It's not preschool graduation, it's not kindergarten graduation or middle-school graduation. I can appreciate people wanting to observe those moments too, but I don't feel they are "real" points of demarcation. High School Graduation, in my mind, is THE big one. It is at this point when a person must begin making real decisions about their life. Parents can still offer advice, and may influence their decisions through various means, but ultimately the child has now crossed a threshold and has taken on true control of their fate.

Cam is our oldest son, the first child Tina and I brought into our lives. He's the one who paved the way for Ben and Kai, the one who first showed us how to be a parent. He continues to teach us even now, as we move through this new phase in our relationship. Tina and I both love Cameron very much. He is a gentle person who thinks deeply about things. He is talented musically and artistically. He works hard on the things he cares about and is self-motivated. I feel deeply blessed to be able to call him my son. I am so impressed by the many things he has achieved over the last 18 years, and look forward to seeing him move on to a bright and exciting future.

This is a short slideshow of Cam over the years...