Transitions

Such big changes for our family in the past few weeks.  First up, Selim finished a successful year in the 4th grade band.  To celebrate the kids' achievement, there was a band concert that involved all three elementary school bands, held at the Middle School.  Selim had wanted to quit in December after the holiday concert, but I made him stick out the year -- finishing what you start life lesson, so to speak.  "Mom, you are forcing me," was a familiar refrain in our household.  Both of us were happy when June 10 rolled around he performed with all the other 4th graders.  It was a hot night in the gym, and the kids performed admirably, sweaty fingers and all.

Next came his 4th grade graduation and Certificate of Achievement.  The ceremony lasted an hour and it was very sweet to see every student shake the Principal's hand and his/her teacher's.  I was a proud mom when Selim walked up, shoulders back, head up, and shook hands.  That's my boy!

He loved his teacher, Mrs. Tucci.  He had a good year with her.

In our desire to give him a better educational experience, we have been looking to move to a different school district.  The middle school in town doesn't have the best reputation.  Although he has a great group of friends around him, and I am sure he would have been fine, we put our house on the market in June.  It was on the market a week when we settled on an offer.

Quickly, we had to find a place to live.  We made an offer on a house that we had seen in the spring that was still available.  On Friday our realtor said that our offer was accepted, but we haven't seen the papers yet.  The house is bigger and has a 2-car garage.  We have some interior painting to do before we move in, but otherwise, there aren't huge repairs waiting for us.

I'm crossing my fingers that the rest of the process goes as smoothly.  We had our home inspection on Friday and that went well.  We expect to conduct both closings on August 15.  That will give us time to get situated before the school year.

Finally, I start a new chapter at work tomorrow.  On April 27, I applied to the Adjudication Manager position open in our building.  On May 20 I had my interview with three Assistant Directors.  On May 29 I found out that I had been selected for the position, but that it was dependent on a successful security clearance re-validation and a suitability review.  On Monday the 22nd I came in to work and saw the email from big HR in DC that I had passed both parts and that I could start on Monday, June 29.  The process was competitive.  I think there were as many as 25 candidates for the job.  I am pleased, humbled, excited, and nervous.  I realize that there are big challenges awaiting me tomorrow.

I don't often comment on politics in this blog.  Most often I'm posting family pictures and that type of stuff.  But it is had to remain silent after Friday's national activity.  I was at work, contemplating going to lunch, listening to the radio when the news of the Supreme Court decision on marriage equality came through.  I didn't expect to feel such joy in my soul and cell tissue.  Finally!  I am so happy on a macro level for our nation that our highest court decided not to take a pass at this question and that it chose not to legislate discrimination.  Our country was founded by people whose forefathers and mothers fled religious tyranny and persecution.  In that spirit, it was so important for our court to stand up and uphold the separation of Church and State.  We have legislated financial and social benefits to married couples and those benefits should apply to all.  On the personal level, I felt relief and elation for all my friends and family members whose lives will feel the direct impact of this ruling.

I listen and read so many arguments to the contrary that marriage has always been about love between one man and one woman.  No it hasn't.  You don't have to go to far back to see how often it was a contract between families to strengthen monetary and political alliances.  Tell the girl who was sold into marriage to an abusive old man how wonderful and loving she should feel about her marriage, that Jesus would want it so.  Or how a woman was traded for a few gold bracelets and a cow to a man she doesn't know -- that her marriage is some sacred match blessed by God, and not the financial arrangement that it really is.  We heard the same arguments against inter-racial marriage.  The sky hasn't fallen.  The world hasn't come to an end.

For those people that assume that all LGBT are now going to "force" them to participate in their wedding... get a grip.  Who wants a hater at their wedding?  I'm sure there are plenty of businesses who will take advantage of the expanded market place.  I think back to my freshman year at Mt. Holyoke when we had some training on sexual orientation.  I can hear Julie telling us that the straight women in the room didn't have to worry about lesbian advances.  "Get over yourselves," she told the room.  "Why would a woman pursue another woman with whom she had no chance?"  So to the baker in a town who doesn't want to participate in a day of dignity and joy -- get over yourself, you probably won't get asked.

To all my friends and family members who are married to a person of the same sex or who want to be -- I am so happy that your marriage will now be recognized as full and as important as mine under the law.  Congratulations on this victory.  May your union be blessed with love and grace.

And speaking of grace, I could listen to the first few bars of the President singing Amazing Grace over and over again.  What an extraordinary eulogy.  For anybody who still thinks that our President is a secret non-Christian -- just listen to him speak.  His cadence, timing, and song show his Church's influence.  But what a moment. What a beautiful, moving, lovely tribute to the Pastor and the other eight victims.  I hope our country can take on the challenge of gun violence at some point soon.  If we don't, we will continue to see the scene from Charleston replay in some other American community.