No more counting days of the Quarantine. Maryland’s shelter-in-place order has been lifted, and life is slowly - slowly - reopening. Plus, this week is Graduation Week. Tomorrow, my oldest graduates from high school.

When he was born, I knew he would graduate in 2020 - a date that seemed so far away as I watched the Olympics in Salt Lake City late at night when I fed him. But here we are.

He and I both had a moment over the weekend when we allowed ourselves to reflect on what he is - and what we as a family are - missing out on. But that’s all it was: a moment to acknowledge and reflect on what should have been. But if there is one lesson I know I have passed along to my children, it is not to wallow. It is what it is. Or as I say at every talk I give: There are events in our lives over which we have no control, but what we can control is how we respond to them.

So, my son and I had our moment, and we moved on. How do you do that? With help. With our community. With knowing we are not alone.
On Monday afternoon, I received a text from a friend that read, “Knock, Knock.” I didn’t respond, I just went outside as her truck pulled down our drive way. This is a friend I used to see every day, a friend with whom I still text every day, but who haven’t seen since the world shut down. But on graduation week, she showed up. I didn’t even know how much I needed to see her, until she was in my driveway. She doesn’t have a child graduating this year, but her heart has ached with mine. And while we both at times - from a safe 6 feet apart - choked back a few tears, I felt so much better, so much stronger, because I knew she was there. Together, as a community, knowing I am not alone, I could move on.

This pandemic is an event over which we have no control; but we can control how we respond to it. And I am very proud of how my son has chosen to respond to it. It’s a nice glimpse of the lessons I have tried to impart; a comfort to know he listened as I prepare to launch him into adulthood.