For many years I have used a large desk calendar attached to the side of our pantry in the kitchen as our family calendar. These types of calendars usually run through June. Since our school district (Chandler Unified) follows a modified year-round calendar, we start school in July. Those dates run perfectly with the dates of the large desk calendar we use. A new calendar to begin a new school year. Well, today (as I write this) is July 1st, and the calendar I ordered arrived today. When I opened the package, a twinge of sadness and perhaps dismay tugged at my heart. This is stupid and I am ridiculous- getting emotional over a calendar? What is wrong with me?!
I’ll tell you what is wrong. I realized that this was the last year I would need to purchase and keep a large family calendar as this is very likely to be the last year that Marc and I will have our children in our home. Another “last”. So, there you go-change. Traditions ending before new ones can begin. A space, or rather, a hole where what once was something, will be no longer. There are so many “lasts” that are forthcoming and will hit throughout the impending school year.
For years, Marc and I have shared a digital calendar in our phones, but I always felt a paper calendar posted for the entire family to see, was helpful for all family members scheduling purposes. It is nice to have a general idea of upcoming events. I keep a pen attached to the calendar so anyone can add or make changes as necessary. There will be no need to have a large calendar posted for the “entire family” because the entire family will consist of Marc and myself after the 25-26 school year. Sad. The death of the family paper calendar=the death of one small staple that added to the way of life around the Coria home for so many years.
I am not ready for this.
