Jessica's Graduating!!!

Congratulations to my talented and beautiful cousin, Jessica Damon! Jessica graduates from Hammond High in the San Antonio area, tomorrow, June 10th.

Jessica is the first to graduate from what we call the "Second Set" of Damon grandchildren. There are 5 in each set. the First Set consists of Michelle (33), Me (30), Katie (30), Nathan (27) and Shannon (26). The Second Set began arriving 8 years later: Jessica, Adam, Sam, Samantha, and Nick, ages 14-18. (Sorry I don't have the ages. I blame geography and gender. I only really converse with Jess and Samantha, 18 and 14 respectively, the boys fall somewhere in the middle.) Hey - my dad is #3 of six children, there were bound to be some grandchildren.

Jess' graduation makes me feel old. I remember being 14 yrs old and playing with an 18-month-old baby Jessica while we both visted our grandparents. She was so cute and inquisitive and had the softest reddish-chestnut hair, and pixie-like features. It made me want to move to San Antonio. To have more of a connection with this side of my family. But it wasn't meant to be. Jessica and her brother Sam moved around the world with my Uncle Steve and Aunt Susan for the Army. Turkey, Delaware... they recently settled back home in Texas. I am so grateful for text messaging and Facebook for reconnecting me with my family. I've gotten to know the woman that Jessica has grown into. She is creative, intelligent, loyal and brave. She graduates tomorrow from high school amid a tornado of emotions. I have no doubt that she will find her place in this world and continue to changes the lives of those around her.

It's a bit overused, but it's a wonderful piece of advice from Emerson:
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

and a little advice from your 30-year-old cousin:
You will be confused and overwhelmed by life. You will also find yourself underwhelmed by everything around you. Just remember that you have time to find your way, your path. Absorb all around you, discard the unnecessary, store the trivial, and use the good stuff. You never know when you will need it. If you need to talk, you can always call your family, any of us - we've all had different experiences and can help. I promise.