Time Marches On

 Fall colors have just burst forth in my neighborhood. Just a little over 2 weeks ago, when I photographed my granddaughter and her friends for Homecoming, the leaves were barely starting to turn. My hip replacement is tomorrow, so I am counting on there still being some fall colors to enjoy when I am mobile again. I have been busy with senior portraits, albeit for family, rather than paying clients! It's hard to believe that our oldest granddaughter is a senior this year and planning for college. Time marches on!

Big milestones, like High School graduation, tend to make us look back. That's why it is so important to take pictures along the way. Many of my granddaughter's friends are involved in sports, like her, and some of them have played together for several years. We attended her last home Volleyball game last week and my daughter made sure to take pictures of her with her teammates. As High School winds down, and the "last times" stack up, I was happy to attend one more game, even if the bleachers are a bit hard on the bottom!

Maddy's High School has a lot of traditions for the Senior Class. Graduating Seniors on the Volleyball team were recognized last week. The same will happen with her Basketball team. Then there's Homecoming and Prom, Senior Skip day and sports banquets. All leading up to Graduation with caps and gowns. I had none of these milestones as a High School student in England, in the Early 70s. The big event was national final exams in each subject, the scores of which determined whether you got a job or a place in college. The exams were set by an independent body and held on particular dates. Mine were set by an exam board connected with the University of Cambridge. I remember that the last couple of weeks, I only had to go to school when an exam was scheduled and when I was done, that was it! No ceremony, no celebrations. Time to get a job, kid! 

As overwhelming as the Senior traditions can be, I like the American hoop-la. It provides a clear boundary between childhood and "adulthood". Eighteen year-olds are still children in many ways but heading off to college, into a trade program, the military, or getting a first Real Job are huge milestones. Senior year is like the last days of summer before the autumn chill of Real Life kicks in. Let's enjoy the lasts and look forward to the firsts; life will never be the same again!