then and now
i met bo when he was nine years old. he was a wee little lad then. we’ve been buds ever since.
when i first met bo, he wasn’t a very strong reader. we would sit on the couch and read books hour by hour. he would read a page, and then i would read a page, he would read a page, then my turn. we read the first harry potter book over a summer. we read all the books assigned for school. little by little as his school work got more advanced, we practiced writing. and reading comprehension.
not only that though - we have spent so much time together not doing homework too. baseball games, trips to alki, whidbey island, bainbridge island, sleeping on the roof in the summer.
bo, johnny and heather came to new york in 2004, coinciding with my own visit to see my sisters. we had high tea at the plaza hotel. and of course, impersonated ostriches.
i was in europe for most of 2006 and i got to meet up with the valencia family for two glorious weeks through france and italy.
van gogh’s room at the insane asylum
heather and i are having a great time. what’s up with those fuddy duddy boys?!
family portrait + rosanna
over the years though, we have still spent so much time sitting on the couch in the side room reading novels, history books and writing essays. it’s been an amazing experience to literally watch someone grow in their understanding. every year the assignments bo had me help with got harder and harder. his reading became more and more fluent. his writing got more and more complex. i am so proud of his work ethic and responsibility (he would call me several days before an assignment was due instead of the night before!).
and now, the unthinkable has happened: bo graduated from high school two weeks ago. WHAT!? how has it been nine years? i am so proud i could burst.
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