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| Troy Shay and Oak Valley Teacher Kenny Daum |
I admit, I am an amateur. Like most people, there are some things I have a great deal of experience in handling, while in other areas, I struggle. The perfect example was just last Thursday morning at Oak Valley Middle School's graduation.
As the Falcon student jazz band started playing music, and the graduates began their procession to their assigned seats for eighth grade promotion, I realized I had to move quickly.
I put on my Maui Jim sunglasses. The dark ones I recently got as a birthday present with built-in bifocals on the bottom half, so I can read the small print down low and still look out over the top and see life around me. For some unknown reason, my eyes began to water as I looked at our son who is the same young man Theresa and I used to call our "little peanut." He just looked so grown up walking to his assigned seat with his classmates.
Behind the dark glasses I looked at all the parents and teachers in attendance and thought to myself, "Am I the only person freaking out here?" Everyone seemed so calm and collected. They must be veterans, I thought. I then realized, I am such an amateur. Troy, our oldest son, is barely fourteen years old and this is just one of many milestones that he will pass, as will as his little brothers, Raymond and Ryan.
I bet many of you have been to lots of events with your children that marked their procession from being a child to becoming a young adult. Those events likely included promotions, graduations and maybe even some weddings. Give me some pointers here, because this really sucks.
It is really not about me getting older. I'm good with that. It is just seeing the changes in them. How did it get here so fast? Can I still take him out for ice cream? Is this really eighth grade? I definitely did not look like any of these eighth graders when I was growing up. These kids seemed so much more mature, smarter and more polished then I ever was. I was too busy riding my bicycle with a banana seat to baseball and football practices. At their age, I would not even think about hosting, much less speaking in front of a thousand people. These kids were unbelievable. What the heck happened?
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Principal Casey Currigan with ASB President Ishwinder Battoo
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As I thought of my amateur status as a parent, I realized another area I am weak in. It comes to mind because I am right now writing this story as our family waits to board a nonstop British Airways flight from San Diego to London, England. None of us have ever been to Europe. I guess we're what you would call lame international travelers or just European virgins. Your choice.
No, I never honeymooned or backpacked across Europe after high school or college. I have never been to Europe or India for work. My life long dream was always to put on a police uniform and badge, strap on a gun belt and then simply save the world. The world I would try to save consisted of only a few dusty square miles in a poorer area of San Diego called Logan Heights.
Those blocks of homes and apartment buildings were filled with adventure and challenges, which helped form life long friendships. The distance we all traveled was not far, but Juan Ponce De Leon would have been fully entertained. Thus, I have never regretted my decision, even for a second. I am just looking forward to finally taking a spin through Europe with our three boys. 
I have seen a lot of training videos about Europe. My favorite is Mr. Bean's Holiday. Our kids stare at me when I keep busting up laughing at that movie. How will we do "dropping off the grid" and traveling for a few weeks visiting London, Paris and then Spain? I really do not know, but I loved telling our boys to leave the iPhones at home.
I hope to drink strong coffee in the mornings and cold beer or red wine in the afternoons. I wonder how many pubs we can go to with our kids? I have lots of questions and few answers. I guess that is not uncommon for a real "rookie" in a strange land.
I still hope to write the next few week's articles, but I can't promise that. I like writing, but I also really like the idea of "being off the grid." Whatever that means exactly. I do know part of my search will be looking for a pink-colored animal and the famous Inspector Clouseau...us cops all have something in common. It is a brotherhood, after all. Take care lads, here on the other side of the pond. I will let you know how my search goes.
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
Ray and Theresa Shay
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