But this isn't about the job that Danny and I had. This is about Jacob. And I really should have written this earlier, but I was in freak out mode with behind couches to clean (check) and Harlow slobbered to wash off (uncheck). I was completely caught up in graduation party prep that I didn't stop to think about the graduate. I think that was on purpose because being a mom of the graduate is tough. Not as tough as it for the graduate though, I am sure.
Jacob was a familiar face in the halls of Bad Kissingen Elementary School long before he was a student. I volunteered full time which meant that he and Hayley were there full time as well. Hayley would often latch onto the principal and would go to the different classes with her. Jacob usually stayed with me in the volunteer room. Sometimes he would go to Mrs. Tamayo's room and play with her Play Mobil toys for the day. He rarely kept his shoes on, which is still a characteristic, and we would spend the last ten minutes of the day rounding up shoe ware. He loved being in the school. Jacob was a bit of a mascot.
When we moved back to Cedar Rapids, Jacob went to St. Matthew's for preschool. Funny that his preschool classroom was my old seventh and eighth grade classroom. Glad those walls couldn't talk. Jacob thrived at St. Matthew's, especially in the social arena. He married a nice little Breitbach girl on a weekly basis.
He then went to pre-kindergarten at Monroe. He was a Bobcat for a few months. It was a wonderful program for those on the cusp of kindergarten. When we moved to West Des Moines in November, there was no such program so Jacob went to kindergarten twice. He would say that he was held back, but that wasn't the case. We knew that we wanted him to wait a year for kindergarten as he was a little guy and the extra time would do him good. Funny that he didn't really catch up physically to his peers until the last couple years of school.
Jacob was at Rex Mathes for three years and then transferred to Fair Meadows when we moved. He graduated from there in sixth grade and went on the Stilwell for seventh and eighth grade. Ninth grade was spent at Southwoods, the ninth grade school (maybe the dumbest idea ever). He finished his career at Valley High School. Graduating two days ago.
Throughout Jacob's career, one expression was consistent, "Jacob has quite the sense of humor." We frequently joked that he got by on his charm and good looks and I believe that is true. His teachers loved him, he made them laugh and they seemed to let things slide (as did we) more than they (and we) should have. The year that Danny was deployed and the year Ashlyn was under the weather seemed to be particularly soft years for the boy.
And now in a few short months he is off to university. Iowa State University to be exact. I won't have instant access to his grades. I won't know how much money is in his lunch account. I won't know if something was turned in late. I won't know when he slept in, or skipped class. It is all on him to be in control of the remainder of his career. I won't receive five to ten emails from the school. I won't have to try and remember the different days and won't wake him up early on a day he didn't have to go to school until second hour (sorry).
Oh, I think Jacob will be just fine at ISU. There will be some serious adjustments that he will need to make. He will live with two other people in a room about the size of the one he is in now with Gregory (the zombie). He will have to find his own answers because I won't know anything. He will be his own man. A grown ass man. AN ADULT. He will find his way. He will walk into (or stumble upon) some fantastic adventures. He will thrive. I know he will.
I watched Jacob at his grad party. He hugged everyone, most twice. He has an infectious smile. He could speak to adults that he didn't know like a pretty normal young man and yet never let go of that which makes him so very Jacob. I was so proud of him. I am so proud of him.
So Congratulations Graduate. I will not quote the stack of cards you received though what they say is true- reach for dreams, succeed, the places you'll go etc. I will just say this, Jacob. Have a blast, go to class, join a club, don't eat too much, don't drink too much, stay off drugs, make friends, keep friends, be kind, go to the library, turn in your work, find a job, don't park illegally, brush your teeth, don't dry your Union Jack sweater, see live music, play live music, keep your record collection under control, go to class, answer my texts (I worry), come visit your dog, buy an extra phone charger, have a blast. Did I say that one twice? I think I repeated the important stuff.
Jacob, you are a special kind of something and I love you! Seriously, have a blast!
