June 3, 2002

DOWN HOME:
Parents recall all the moments
___Call it a conspiracy of compassion: When high school seniors proceed into their commencement ceremony, they dress in robes and mortarboards. Academic regalia dates back centuries. Now, however, it's a great disguise to get their parents' minds off the moment.

MARV KNOX Editor

___Dressed in robes and square caps with tassles, graduates hardly resemble the kids who hang out at home in jeans and T-shirts and sandals. That's good. Academic distancing helps mom and dad get through the occasion.
___I realized this during senior recognition at church, as I watched our oldest daughter, Lindsay, stand before the congregation with her friends and classmates.
___They looked very little like the young people I know and love. But ancient robes and hats couldn't fool me. As I watched Lindsay stand there in her academic attire, I saw her:
___ Asleep in her mother's arms the evening after she was born.
___ Playing with the boxes and ignoring the presents at her first birthday party.
___ Sitting in the dirt under our huge oak trees, meticulously sticking the caps of acorns on her tiny fingers.
___ "Helping" me rake leaves when she was too small to hold a rake upright.
___ Clinging to my neck early, early in the morning as I dropped her off at the neighbors' before taking Joanna to the hospital to give birth to Lindsay's sister, Molly.
___ Delivering a stream-of-consciousness narrative of her day as I gave her and Molly their evening bath.
___ Sitting in the back seat of our car, looking so, so small as we drove to school the first day of first grade.
___ Holding my hand and skipping as we walked together in the grocery store.
___ Turning cartwheels across the living room floor, down the driveway, everywhere.
___ Playing our made-up game of soccer in the backyard.
___ Running in a track meet in seventh grade.
___ Singing in a concert at church after her youth choir returned from tour.
___ Sitting in our family sedan with me, trying to learn to drive the thing. And later, waving at me as we met each other on our street.
___ Body-surfing at the beach and searching for her lost sunglasses.
___ Running the gamut of emotions--crying for joy when she made the Farmerettes drill team the first time and when she made lieutenant and captain, and weeping bittersweet tears after the last football game and Spring Show.
___ Cuddling with me on the couch, watching our favorite TV programs.
___If you've raised a child, you know what I mean. You can close your eyes and view a precious scrapbook of growing-up images.
___Thank God for blessing us with children and millions of moments to remember.

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