A year ago, there was a hush over my world that seemed to have no end in sight. We weren’t sure if things would ever go back to normal, or when. We circled the wagons. We counted our blessings and washed our masks. We were relieved that school would be virtual, and remote work was both possible and plentiful. We lost track of time, and an entire year of milestones passed us by with little fanfare or holiday spirit – except the fact that we were decorated for Halloween for most of September, October and November, and our Christmas decorations stayed up until mid-February.

We celebrated the first summer Saturday with a quick jaunt to the beach. The kids clambered over the same rocks they’ve been scaling since they were babies (and the same rocks I also climbed as a baby) while I stared out at the waves and contemplated how the beach has eroded. The waves at this …

In exactly one week, my youngest daughter will graduate from high school. Just like that, our years of compulsory education will be behind us, and I’ll be the mother of three college students. I’ll be the one starting a new fashion trend in celebration of paying three college tuitions: