Please don’t take my sunshine away

Is it possible for your heart to be bursting and breaking at the same time?

 

And, can you ever love anyone as much as you love your own child?

 

Yes and yes.

 

Kindergarten graduation, 2022. The timing was hard.

 

As we drove up to the school, our hearts bursting – I was carrying a fresh little bouquet of gardenias that I made from my garden for my granddaughter. There, in front of the only unlocked entrance door, loomed a Charleston police car. (cue: heart breaking)

Inside, we waited patiently in line to give our identification info and to receive our visitor’s tag. 

 

As we were ushered into the auditorium, our son-in-law was saving seats for us. (Our daughter, a teacher at the school, was involved in the program.) When all of those beautiful children took their places on the stage, and I saw our granddaughter’s smile, when her

searching eyes met ours, I knew that I truly couldn’t love her more.

 

They began with songs that never get old – my eyes welled up during “You are My Sunshine.”

 

Then, adorable songs for each class, where the words were modified to fit the situation, made us laugh. “Don’t stop believing” by Journey, with some amusing changes, made by my daughter – I kinda like her too – began with “Just a little girl, living on Daniel Island – she took the golf cart to school one day…” And on and on and on and on. Love.

 

When the ceremony was over my little, rising first-grader took my hand and proudly showed me around her classroom. She introduced me to her teacher who just beamed as she talked to me about her. I sent out a silent prayer that she could always feel as special as she did at that moment. 

 

As we enjoyed a tug-at-your-heart little video of all of the kids interacting throughout the year – their pleasure while watching was the most entertaining of all. Each one of them received a certificate of recognition, whether it be for excellence in a certain subject or the best helper or best smile – everyone had their moment in the sun.

 

I watched her hug her teacher goodbye and we left the classroom – her little head filled with memories. Upon leaving the school, she introduced me to the officer that we saw when we arrived. He knew her by name.

 

And then, she was on her way to first grade. I tried to block my thoughts of the children who would not be moving on to their next grade, and the teachers who would not be re-writing songs, making videos and hugging goodbye to the students they had loved throughout the year. I just wanted to allow myself to focus on this child, on this day, for just a little bit longer. Just to be in the moment, a few more moments, as she held her gardenias while skipping by my side.  

 

“Please don’t take my sunshine away.”