Florida Family

Dear grandson, Marshall, graduated from high school with high honors in Ocala, FL on June 12! I was so disappointed not to be there, to celebrate all his hard work. He is going on to great things, of that I am most certain. Marshall of the wry smile....you have made us all very proud. CONGRATULATIONS!!
Marshall with his wonderful parents, Anne and David.
The week or so before Marshall's graduation, my dear, dear son-in-law, David, lost his father to cancer. There is an echo to the loss which reverberates all the way back here in MA. Knowing David's family, goes all the way back to when I was a senior in HS and they were neighbors of my "boyfriend." That boyfriend later became my husband and the father of my two girls. The family friendships brought Anne and David together when they were teenagers, and the rest is history. David's parents moved to FL in 1980 or so, and in 1981, when Anne graduated from HS here, she moved right away to FL to be near her love. Now Mr C is gone and they are adjusting to life without one of the cleverest and funny people ever. He was a very independent spirit...with a touch of curmudgeon. He loved his children so very much. There is a huge legacy of tradition and adventure, and I've watched as David has created those same memories for his family.
I love this photo. As much as it displays a weary sadness, David is getting the ultimate comfort from his trusty companion, Theo....'bout time Theo made an appearance again. He is a wild child and offers a lot of entertainment to his keepers. Big hugs coming to you, David. We have traveled your path all too recently.