I didn't expect to be overwhelmed by the last day of school, but I was. In addition to all the go, go, go and sugar, everything felt symbolic and significant.

I planned to walk around Green Lake after walking David to school, but instead, I joined my sister's coffee klatch where there was lots of big news like the elementary school principal is quitting and we won't have another until near the start of school maybe. Lots of uncertainty there.

Also, I looked around at these lovely people. I've had children in the same school as them for nine years. Some of us still have younger kids at the elementary school, but the middle school cohort is busting up. Uff. Luckily, Leslie plays in a band we all like to go hear, and there is still a lake to be walked.

Rose's promotion was fine but a little anti-climatic. So, that's it? Middle school is done? I was hoping for a short ceremony, but there were no teachers at the reception to help me kvell about my girl. It left me feeling disconnected from the school, though to be fair, I had never felt connected. I also failed to eat lunch in a timely manner, so that probably affected my perception of the event.

Then I rushed home and ate, rushed out to get David from school, once more missing a chance for a walk, and rushed David back to our friend's house for the annual last day of school ice cream sundae party. Can't say anything bad about ice cream sundaes, especially with lots of cherries.

Then as part of the symbolic changes in my life, both kids ran off to events elsewhere--Rose to a party, David to watch a movie with a friend. I will admit the calm helped. At 9:30, I drove the carpool, picking up Rose and two friends, dropping off one friend, picking up David, dropping off my kids, dropping off another friend, and getting home, all before 10:00.

I keep waiting for the big crash, but nobody burst into tears, the whining and complaining were pretty minimal, and we seemed to have made it through the day.