Gone Baby Gone

Yesterday was my baby's last official day of school, he graduates from Grade 12, commencement is next week. Where did that time go? Obviously he is my youngest son, our afterthought but much enjoyed third child. When I found out I was pregnant, nine years after our other son, I was a little shocked to put it mildly but once we came to terms with the fact, decided that, after having the other two quite close together (2 years apart) and the blurr that was, I would really make a point of enjoying every moment, knowing that every phase would pass eventually, I had help in the form of the older two, husband was much more hands-on and we have all enjoyed pretty much every minute of him since. He has been an exemplary child, always very easy, independent, mature, cheerful, loving ..... the list goes on.

He is a quietly confident boy, with a dry sense of humour which charms most that meet him, teachers, fellow students, employers, girls!

But he is also a bit of an anarchist at heart, always thinking against the crowd, and I mean anarchist in the following definitition taken from Dictionary.com:

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A theory that regards the absence of all direct or coercive government as a political ideal and that proposes the cooperative and voluntary association of individuals and groups as the principal mode of organized society.

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A hippy at heart, wanting a good world, looking for the right way to proceed through this jaded one (like his mother), but cynical (like his father) and realistic - it makes for a very interesting person, and we look forward to watching the man he becomes. It seems this also includes him taking part in peaceful non-confrontational protests, like the one planned at the G20 here in Toronto. Of course part of me wants to wrap him in cotton wool and forbid him to go - but the other part of me is proud that he has strongly held socially responsible views.

He starts college in September studying Film and Media Production, a four year Batchelor's degree. Someone asked me the other day if we were buying him something for graduation, and I was a little taken aback, but bit my tongue and did not retort "How about a very expensive education over the next four years!". No, mugs that we are he is also getting a large contribution to the European tour he has planned with his girlfriend for this summer.

Not complaining, he has made it a very easy ride over the last 17 and a half years and he deserves it all and more. Congratulations Eddie .....with much love.

Free Fallin'

OK maybe not "free" falling but falling nonetheless. A little poetic license there :) What am I talking about? The Euro! Yes I know it is bad news for a lot of folks but for us it is a bonus. We spent big bucks having work done last year when the Euro was at around CAD $1.6 and so we are cashing in now that it is low. Today I managed to get CAD $1.28. Whoohoo!

When we were purchasing the house - the rate was around $1.35 - $1.43 and we used one of those services where you lock in a rate because obviously over the price of a house, a few cents here and there, made a big difference. And it has been on a roller-coaster ever since. Sorry everyone, but we ARE trying to keep the grin of our faces while rubbing our hands together in glee.

The golden Euro is looking a little tarnished these days and we do know it doesn't bode well for the Eurozone in particular and the world in general - all this uncertainty, credit crunch and Euro bailouts. But it is nice to be on the plus side for a change and we are making the most of it as we squirrel away funds to pay for this summer's scheduled work. I am sure it will come full circle - these things always do.