Grief and Loss

First day of school, August 15, 2012.

Friends, we are gathered here today to mourn the loss of the 2012-2013 academic year.  It is with great sadness that I write today to commemorate this school year, whose days were much too short.  For those of you that did not know this year personally, I can attest to the fact that it was wonderful, filled with many hours spent educating my oldest son and keeping him out of the house and unable to pound on his little brother.

I first met this school year on August 15, 2012, when I dropped my son, Cael, off at the doors of the elementary school for his first year of daily school.  From the very first day of our relationship, I noticed how much quieter and less confrontational my home felt, and I developed an instant bond with the school year.

Last day of school, May 21, 2013.

Throughout our relationship, the '12-'13 academic year enriched my life in many ways.  In addition to teaching my son to read and write many new words and providing him with educational opportunities unavailable in my home, it also allowed me to spend some one-on-one time with my younger son, Graham, and taught me the merits of Starbucks coffees and lazy Friday mornings.

If the school year were here today, I'm sure it would tell us not to be sad, but to remember the good times in the difficult summer days to come.  And even though it may be gone, the memories of the times we spent together will live on in our hearts until this fall, when we may allow ourselves to believe again when we begin the 2013-2014 year.

School year, I appreciated your camaraderie and will never forget you.