Thursday was one of those days. Full of excitement and reflective thought, happiness with a tinge of sadness thrown in best describing our mood as Chuck, KRP, and I loaded up and headed off for Nevada. Three people that physically might make one and half if melded together!
You Never Know
Our friend Chuck and Brandon hit it off when Brandon was visiting us one summer. The two of them formed a friendship: mentor and student, comrades, and fishing buddies they became. I must admit they are an odd compo. Brandon with his youthful angst and Chuck a retired justice dept. special agent. Who would have thought?
Brandon has worked hard to achieve his goals. You see Brandon has learning disabilities and I hope he does not mind that I share this here. He never said never, never quit, he never gave up. Blessed with some special educators, real teachers that never quit, never said never, and never gave up on him he learned. Parents and extended family that never quit him, never gave up, and fought the battles to raise a child to become a good heart-ed, honest and ethical, confident young man.
When testing time rolled around he could have accepted extra help but he decided to take the tests without it and he scored! No adjusted or special diploma for him. That took courage IMHO. Not only did he achieve a High School Diploma but also he bettered that, received an advanced one, 9th in his class, and became a scholarship recipient to boot.
So off we go excited to attend his graduation and yet well, feeling old. He has so much potential but we worry about the state of the world. Please God that you watch over him and never quit him.
A few bits of the trip and ceremony.
I am gonna miss my little fishing buddy. Sometime when I was not looking he grew up!
Really touching — good luck to Brandon!
Hiya Donna!
Amazing how fast he grew up LOL I feel so well old!
He has the tools lets hope he uses them/
Jan
A great tribute to your friend Jan! Congratulations Brandon!
It is a bit scary to think of what lies ahead in this world for the the young ones. I wonder what kind of world my granddaughter will be have to deal with as she gorws up.
Cheers
Yes thinking about what the future might hold is scary in many ways. Hope they do not have to deal with too many messes.
Jan
Such a huge accomplishment… graduation…look out world, here comes Brandon!
I bet he’ll still come around for some fishing from time to time….
Snow? Still? Sheesh…..
I am thinking the Bass of the world are glad he practices catch and release! I am not worried about seeing him just I will miss the kid yah know? Went through this when his dad flew the coup also.
Yes the snow was over 10 feet high along the roadway in some places. Just amazing.
Jan
wow! and ms dancer is next year…what a wonderful thing, eh? But yeah, I know how you feel on that old thing. Still, he knows who his real friends are, and he’ll be around to visit. I’m betting on it.
Woot! – like my Texas word ha ha.
Great to have a comment from you!
Yeah drivers license, freedom, augh! They grow up too fast. His dad always returns so no worry there. It is strange as he looks like his dad so much at this age. I accidentally call him Billy sometimes LOL.
He has a good plan, goals, desire, . … just hope he and ms Dancer never lose their dreams.
Jan
Congratulations to Brandon! It’s a big right of passage. What’s next, I wonder. Likely more school of some kind. GOOD LUCK to you!! (Jan, you may pass that on.)
That was a nice video tribute, by the way.
Speaking of Woot! You might oughta check out woot.com for some interesting deals, or shirt.woot.com for (OFTEN GEEKY) T-shirts. If you get them the first day they’re featured they’re only $10 incl. S&H. Hmmm, why did I think of this now?
He is going forward with his education. Junior College and the transfer to University. Maybe here in Ca maybe in Oregon. He has decided on fish and wildlife. He has already enrolled for summer classes, has a job (has since old enough to get work permit), and is helping out with school expenses.
Sherri introduced me to Woot and I just love it LOL I will have to go look at the shirts. 🙂
Jan
What a success story! I love, love, love hearing about those students who overcame the odds and proved they could do it! Don’t worry, your young friend will still be there, and you’ll enjoy the new maturity. PS — loved the video! I think I was on that scary road where the cliff by the road was so frightening!
Peace,
Muff
Muff he really has worked hard to get there. His parents, teachers, extended family (us included) started years ago drumming in the importance of an education. By the time he became a sophomoric in HS he took the bull by the horns.
He invited one of is favorite teachers to the ceremony and had her sit with the family. She helped him apply for the scholarships, prepare for the tests, and through the years was his cheer leader!
Everyone is tinged green oh that bright shirt!
What a nice tribute and you know I loved the video!
You seem to take your fair share of road trips and always bring us along!
Nicole
My favorite words shouted out loud! “Road Trip”! it used to mean a motorcycle ride but eh who’s complaining a road trip is a road trip! I am better a delegating the driving duties now also so I actually get to watch the scenery roll by.
Gotta share road trip adventures with someone so I choose my loyal blog readers! This maybe considered a good thing by some and a bad thing by others LOL Glad you liked!
Jan
– catching up here. I can only comment when I’m not in the office – darned Fun Police firewall! –
Thanks for introducing us to this remarkable young man. Congratulations to him, and to everyone who helped him. What an achievement!
thank you Zoom! We are very proud of him! and hee hee that dang fun Police firewall!
Just came home and it was nice to find a comment from you! (woo hoo two of em)
Jan