June 2000: I was enjoying the early stages of the MOMS Club and Rowan was getting glasses. 1999: I found out an old friend from camp had been murdered the preceeding autumn (her murderer is still at large) 1998: Rowan was 7 months old, and quite fun to be around - between that horrific needy newborn stage and that "chase me everywhere because I'm mobile now!" stage. 1997: I was just entering my second trimester of being pregnant with Rowan. Gary had finally found a permanent job in May (he'd been doing some temp work) at the VNA, and I was still working at Media Play for pennies above minimum wage. 1996: We were still (legally) newlyweds, and preparing for our wedding ceremony (it was August 31st, but we were married at city hall in May so we could get our INS requirements taken care of). We planned several years of together time, then would have a child. 1995: I was visiting Chicago, meeting many people I'd only known online up until that point, one of whom I thought I'd spend the rest of my life with (wonder where he is now!), one of whom I only peripherally knew until that point who I never expected would become one of my best friends ever. 1994: Home from sophomore year of college, enjoying some time to relax and starting my second year working in the Neurology Department at the hospital my mother worked at. 1993: Home from freshman year of college, enjoying some time to relax and starting my first year working in the Neurology Department at the hospital my mother worked at. 1992: High school graduation! Goodbye snooty conservative girls' school! 1991: Finishing up Junior year of high school, taking on beginning responsiblities for being on Student Council Senior year, Installation as Worthy Advisor (it's a Rainbow thing - hard to explain, but basically, the highest office in the local group), and fielding phone calls from a rather scary stalker (that I never told anyone about - yeah, I'm a moron). 1990: Not surprisingly, finishing up sophomore year of high school. Boy was I an emotional mess that year. Enough said! I was also fretting I'd turned in my locker key before emptying a plate full of homemade cookies from it. 1989: I was in Florida, just finished my first year of high school. "The picture you see is no portrait of me" (from a New Order song) about summed up my feelings on myself. I thought I was just so deep. I was 15, what can I say. ;) 1988: Junior High School (Forest Grove Middle School) graduation. It was hot, long, and boring. I was bitter I didn't win any outstanding student awards. I always thought I was more outstanding than I actually was. 1987: Sang in the 7th grade chorus for the 8th grade graduation. Fretted that I left library books in my locker and they would be thrown out before I got to retrieve them. 1986: Had a little autograph book for my friends from that one year in Dudley, Massachusetts to sign. I knew I'd be moving to Worcester over the summer to live with my mother - I was so excited about that. The boy I had a crush on signed the book "see you later alligator" and I thought it was the most romantic thing ever. I was a dork! 1985: I vaguely recall singing "We Are the World" with the chorus at the 6th graders' graduation at the school I was attending. It was another school I'd only be at for a year. 1984: I had no idea I would not be going back to see all my friends the following fall as I finished up my 4th grade year. I was eagerly awaiting my first summer of attending sleep-away camp. It was the first summer after my parents' divorce. 1974-1983: I am afraid I have no real memories of June those first 10 Junes of my life. June always meant my father's birthday and father's day. Other than that, nothing really sticks out.

I was so busy yesterday writing about donating organs, I forgot to mention the real-life stuff going on. Rowan graduated from preschool on Tuesday. At least from her former preschool, since she's got another 1-2 years left at the new one (we have to decide, since she has a November birthday, if we want her to start kindergarten fall 2002 or 2003 - the pressure!!). The little ones were all so cute in their caps and gowns, singing, getting their diplomas, marching in a line. It didn't seem to hit her that this was the END of this preschool, though, and she was asking today when she could go back. Oy. The open house at next year's preschool was better than I expected. The preschool and kindergarten have their own section of the building, which is much brighter and friendlier looking than the upper grades' section. The teachers were friendly, the classrooms very well oriented to a child. While I have to admit, if money were no object, I'd keep her in the old preschool, this one isn't filling me with as much dread as before I'd seen it. I still boggle at the idea of 5 days a week, though! (I was discussing that with the teachers, and we were all commenting on how hard it is to see how many parents are vying for a full-day preschool program for three year olds. The youngest kids in the program can be 2 years and 8 months when they start, and we're talking 7:30am - 2:30pm, with many choosing the option of the extended care after-school program, which keeps them there until 5:30. You figure they must go home, eat, then get into bed so they can be up in time for the next morning's class - how sad it must be for both the parents and children to so rarely get to spend time together. While we struggle financially at times, I guess I'm pretty lucky we've managed to work it out so Rowan always has either Mommy or Daddy at home with her (except, of course, during preschool, but I was available to help out in the class and keep her home if she was sick without worry, etc.). Anyhow. It's been an odd week, what with the holiday on Monday, the funeral over the weekend (did I mention that? Rowan and I went to New York for the funeral of one of my aunts, everyone kept asking what I was doing for the weekend and I was like "going to a funeral, and you?"), Gary having off on Tuesday (dr's appointment -he needs glasses!! we're ALL four-eyed now! and the graduation), and the like. He was convinced last night was Tuesday, thought I was messing with him when he went to record Buffy. So it's the weekend again, which, as usual, holds little excitement when you're the one who works on weekends. We have gymnastics tomorrow morning (I hope! I have this odd worry last week - while we were in NY - was the last class!), the church yard sale, some relaxation, then back to the grindstone for me. When I stopped in to pick up my paycheck this evening, they tried to get me to stay. I laughed. I said that Fridays are the only day my husband and I have together (well, many Thursdays we do as well, but that sounded less dramatic!) and we vowed to spend them together. Come to think of it, the last time I stopped in on a Friday to get my check they tried the same. And I told them the same (that night we even had a babysitter, so it was a *resounding* no!). I have it all over my "availability sheet" that Fridays and Mondays are out out OUT! Yet they keep asking. It makes it so I fear going shopping there anymore. Honestly. I'll go a few miles out of the way just to avoid being asked to work. Somehow that has to be counterproductive to their whole store! And, finally, I just wish someone would invent a self-tanner that went on like bright shocking purple. So you could tell *exactly* where it has been applied. Coppertone's "endless summer" is pretty good as far as smell (it's not putrid! woohoo!) and coverage goes, but it's clear when applied, so it's hard to avoid making some streaks. I just hope I didn't miss anyplace! I had a little sample, so I did my legs, which I have to admit, look a bit better with some color. I'm beyond pale on my own, which I like in the face, but on the legs, it just shows off every bruise (I'm forever walking into things), purple vein (wasn't that a Prince song?), or whathaveyou. But it's kind of cool how you can see all the veins in my neck and chest through my skin. :) If only someone made "deathly pale" foundation, my life would be perfect. Well, especially if it came in bottles with free $1,000,000 bills inside for customers named Heather! :)