Well now.

Early this morning I meandered up the stairs and into my wonderfully junky art room. I spun around in circles, both mentally and physically.

My thought was that I would attack the closet. It's a nice size walk-in with a rod on one side (all of THGGM's winter stuff is hanging there). I thought I might hang my papers and ribbons on the rod.

In the corner, sitting all hunched over, sat a huge stuffed "Cat in the Hat", that belonged to Oldest Son when he was but a wee lad. The Cat looked sad and lonely. Like he'd been hiding there for years, and no one came to find him. I could so relate.

On the top shelves I found piles of Detroit Tiger memorabilia, belonging to Youngest Son. I found his favorite stuffed animal, too. On the floor I found THGGM's cashmere sweater, the one he's been looking for since fall, and boxes overflowing with what-have-you. So much for moving my stuff into that closet. I found new homes for several things. But quickly reached the end of my store of endurance.

Underneath it all I can sort of see - if I squinch up my eyes, use my imagination and stop breathing for a minute - some hints of order trying to emerge.

I told myself to just concentrate on one corner. Just ONE corner. Of course, I had finished this corner a few weeks ago but someone else, cleaning somewhere else, found something else and put it in my corner.

A manilla envelope. With something hard inside. OH! Be still my beating heart! Could it be more family pictures for me to post?

I open it with great joy and anticipation! Really, not because it is so exciting. But because it isn't a half finished art project I need to either finish or throw out.

It is my high school diploma!

I nearly collapsed. I graduated from high school THIRTY YEARS AGO!?!? How could this be???

Inside of my diploma case was my very last report card. My last grades were three A's and two B+'s.

Then, I found the mimeographed copy (if you do not know what a mimeographed copy is, oh...I cannot even go there...) of the class will and testament, and the class prophecy.

This is how much I have NOT changed in 30 years. I did not turn mine in. I could not decide what I wanted to leave to anyone, nor did I know where I would be in 30 years. I'm still thinking about it. I still haven't decided.

But I did read THGGM's. He said that in thirty years he would be teaching in the Bahamas. He did spend the last 9 months teaching, but last time I looked Chicago didn't have anywhere near the climate of the Bahamas.

Thirty years ago, besides being a much sought after babysitter and running two paper routes, he was a school custodian. He left THAT to some sophomore he was training to replace him. Hmmm. That made me laugh.

Oh, the places we'll go!

* * * * * * *

I haven't done much
I haven't gone far
I'm 47 years old
And I don't have a car.

I leave my three A's
and my two B's with pluses
They've done me no good
I don't know what the fuss was.

I'm a wife and a mother
A grandmother too
Though I've earned no degrees
I can cut, stamp and glue.

I'm not much of a cook
And I cannot grow flowers
But when baking up cookies
I've magical powers!

I wasn't prolific
But these were my choices
I can read Dr. Seuss
In all different voices.

In thirty more years
I'll be seventy-seven
More wrinkles, more age spots
Still living with Evan?

Then I'll leave you my pens,
And my decoupage glue,
My beads and my baskets
My rubberstamps too.

Tho' it took thirty years
It is now completed
My prophecy I give you
I somehow succeeded!