The morning is starting off on the chillier side, but we are promised temperatures in the mid-70s, by early afternoon. I will welcome this with time on the deck by evening’s end.

I was in bed by 10:30 PM and even with a healthy amount of sleep, I did not delight in rising at 6:10 AM, despite being greeted by five of the happiest dogs in the world. Every morning, they kickstart me into my day and I appreciate their efforts. Last night, Col. Deeds opted to sleep on the floor, snuggled next to Chief, but when I stirred, giving the suspicion of rising for the day, Deeds was pushed beside me, his neck across mine.

This afternoon, there are seven graduate parties of my eleven graduating seniors, all occurring within the same time-frame. I tried every conceivable way to make it work but my lack of magic prevents me from attending. I finish my work by 2 PM as most of the parties are beginning or approaching their end. I have five students I have been teaching since they were five years old – that’s twelve to thirteen years of being with these wonderful young adults.

Today would have been the 71st birthday of my mother’s younger brother, Ronald Dean Barmes. Uncle Ron was named in honor of my grandmother’s older brother, Ronald Monroe Clary, who died from injuries sustained in a horse riding accident when he was fifteen years old. Both Ronalds died in the month of June, fifty years apart. something that was not lost on John William Garrett Clary, the father and grandfather of both Ronalds.

It’s time o begin my day. I’d love to start it a bit later, but there’s much to be done.

Make it a great day!

To Give up on a Dream

By Charles E. Wellington

To give up on a dream is thought to be cowardly
But is it not courageous to dismiss one’s hopes in order to dream of something new
Is it not bolder to go where no one has been
Is it not more glorious to achieve that which would otherwise remain unaccomplished
Are not dreams nothing more than opportunity
With new decisions facing us every moment
As simple as a choice or as complicated as conviction
Then would it not be remarkable to go against one’s beliefs in order to reach the greatness waiting to be conceived
In a world forever changing, forever adapting
With days eternally numbered and opportunities nearly infinite
it would be easier to stick to the familiar
But life is like a simple child’s game
If you have nothing to challenge you
What you are, what you’re made of, and what you believe
Then it would be lacking of fun with no sense of victory
To choose the difficult path is to choose to live
To live a life of fulfillment, a life of glory
If your dreams ever seem too easy or too simple
Then I implore you, dream again