My brother and I are fourteen months apart – I am the oldest. My mother had this thing with dressing us alike – as if we were twins. Maybe it was what you did in the the late 70’s early 80’s – I mean there could have been some weird twin trend and all parents were dressing their offspring alike. There could have been a buy one get one free deal at JC Penney but the deal only worked with the same exact clothing… Who knows? Paul and I would get asked endlessly if we were twins and the explanation would take too long, “No, we are really fourteen months apart but our mother is a whack-a-do and dresses us alike all the time.” We’d have to say that a hundred times a day (exaggeration), so we simply would answer, “Yes, yes we are.” Ohhh people thought we were the cutest kids! I mean – we were! You may pick up a hint of dorkiness but we can’t help that – that is a gene passed down to us by both parents! It was a dominant gene – there was no escape! Paul and I have taken the “dork” gene and made it cool though… *wink*

Of course I have supplied pictures as proof to the madness that was my mother and her secret desire to have spawned twins. *wink* I have to add that the trend stuck with me and in high school my BFF and I would call each other at night and organize our outfits to match… We did this into our early twenties and then we finally stopped… Of course now I have two Boyz… Yep, you can see where I am going with this! I dress them alike but not all the time – and with almost four years difference there is no mistake, they are not twins. My mother still takes home the award for best representation of having twins that were not twins…

“Here comes trouble”

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Oh boy – you just have no idea how true that was! (still is)

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“Ride ‘em cowboy!”

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Just no words…

“Where’s Vi-Jo?”
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Here’s a game the folks at Knott’s Berry Farm thought would be fun to play!

It would appear that the last two photos were from the same day – but I can assure you that we wore those clothes over and over again! The “Here Comes Trouble” shirts we wore until they fell apart – we are talking years here folks! My mother is not one for sizes – if we could still wear it… years…

Oh boy, I love being home with my Boyz! I love being able to wake up nice and slow and go for a nice long walk to the local park! I enjoy walking down my street calling a friend and meeting up with her and her little baby to walk with us to the park! It was a nice morning, but then it started to get hot, and Sammy started to complain and then Jack started to scream and cry because he was tired… I am awake! We got home – finally – and Jack took a nap. Now – after shoveling food into my starving mouth – I am totally ready to go again! I do not want to be here in this house! I doubt it would make a difference which house – although, it might be less of a panic feeling if the house I lived in was one I liked… Just saying. I think I just don’t want to sit here doing nothing – day in and day out…! It’s still fresh out of school and my brain doesn’t want to start working – so writing is like totally impossible! I have tried and tried, but it’s not going to happen right now. My brain is also freaking out because I am not used to being at home doing nothing every day either! So, all I want to do is go go go! I need to gather the Boyz and head out to another park – driving at this time in the day (late afternoon) – and just let them play for a bit. Of course it’s not them itching – it’s me. They seem fine right now playing in their room and with each other.

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I am also itching because I want to get out of here! I want the new chapter of my life to start right this second! Okay, maybe not right this second – but really soon! I want to move and I want to get things done fast fast fast! Too much to ask? I have been waiting sixteen years for this move! Come on – I cannot wait another minute! I am going nuts – I want things done and it seems like we get to a good point in life then *boom* there’s a nasty, painfully large speed bump… Really?! All I want to do is get on with this life – get myself out of the sand pit I have been stuck in for the past sixteen years. I want plush, fresh, moist – and I want it now! Deep breath – I am forced to wait – I know it will happen…

Pictures! Today, as I had said, we went for a nice walk to the park…

Bebe Jack Jack was all ready to go
- with his hat on, buckled in and cereal in a baggie in his lap – nothing was holding him back!

Walking down the street towards the park!
(notice all the brown – any green you might see is only an optical illusion – the human eye is trained to see grass in yards.)

Enough is enough when the temperature starts climbing and red ants start biting!
*ouch*

We plan to do it again tomorrow – maybe going to a different park in the area – who knows! We are unpredictable like that! You just never know what park Viola and her Boyz will walk to next! It is how we roll…. I am totally cracking up – get me outta here! *giggle*

The morning started late as the seniors gathered in the gym for a practice run through the graduation ceremony. Every student had a “walking partner” and a room number to meet in and get organized before walking out. My guys were first in line! We got them all lined up two by two and marched them out to the stage and chairs and sat them down. The director of graduation (Mr. Cole) talked to them a while about everything that was going to happen and then they wanted a few rows to go up and simulate the walking across the stage as an example of what to do. I walked back and up the steps with Carlos and Fabian and when they called Fabian’s name I choked up! I was able to collect myself and hold it together for the practice… The boys were not having the best time at practice. Carlos had no interest in what I had to say (interpret) and Fabian was texting the entire time…

So of course I took a picture. I was hoping for a nice shot without them knowing but they were busy being weird-o’s. After their practice we went in and got their cap and gowns and then Carlos and I went to get sushi…. yummy lunch! After dropping him off I ran home and got dressed. I was going to wear a nice little summer dress but nooooo, graduation day had to be cold and rainy! I am not complaining – just that every year it’s been hot, and I had this damn dress waiting… It’s okay, I wore black pants, and a purple and white striped shirt…*sniff, sniff* As soon as I was ready I dashed out and went to my friend’s house who lives right behind the high school. She had a nacho bar, but my nerves were too wound up for that – so I had a glass of wine and a bottle of water and we headed over to graduation!

After pointless waiting in the “Media Center” I realized what time it was and grabbed my signing partner by the arm and ran over to the room the boys were in! *oops* They were already lined up and looking sharp in their cap and gowns. Aww here they stood all ready to say goodbye to high school (and me) and go on with the rest of their lives… It was an awesome sight – but I did not lose composure. All the staff lined up two by two and we were the first ones in line. I say we meaning another Interpreter and myself – the IT person from my last post never showed up – although no one was heart broken over that! We marched out before the students and lined up on either side of the isle. Then Pomp and Circumstance started to play and my entire body started to shake and my eyes filled with tears – it wasn’t until I saw them marching toward me that I totally lost it! All I could sign was “I Love You.”

Carlos and Fabian were the first two students to walk across the stage – but before they walked I felt it my duty to embarrass them one last time! I was sitting there interpreting when all of a sudden it hit me – I had to go to the bathroom (pee) really freaking bad! I played it in my head just how much I had to drink and it was a lot! With all the excitement I had totally forgotten to hit the potty! I tried my best to hold it but there was so much that I was forced to run off and find a bathroom! Yep, I ditched them during one of the most important speeches of the night and went running around the school to find an open door… there were no open doors! The speech had ended and I needed to get back before they crossed the stage! I got back and they got ready to stand up and walk behind the stage – OMG I had to pee so bad I was going to burst! We walked behind the stage and of course we had to have a moment of silence! The moment went on forever as I tried not to pee my pants! The assistant principal gave her wave for the boys to come up, so I grabbed Carlos’  arm and pulled him to the steps…took a deep breath…climbed the steps with him and stood a second before they called his name. I patted him on the shoulder one last time as my student and he moved forward. The assistant principal and I looked at each other as our eyes filled with tears and we heard his name… She gave him the shove out onto the stage and he graduated from high school. Fabian stepped up next and I patted him on the back – again, one last time as my student. Words were stuck in my throat as I was all choked up and couldn’t say anything. The assistant principal gave him the shove out onto the stage and there went Fabian… My job here was done. I walked down the steps, looked up at Teddi standing in the corner, and remembered how badly I had to pee! Again – I ran off, well I walked this time. I found a door that had been unlocked between returning to graduation after my first failed attempt at going to the bathroom and the walking across the stage. So, we went in and took our time – I cleaned the dirt out of my shoes – the sand had already ripped my flesh *yuck* apart. I slowly returned to graduation with a new since of peace and calmness… Something had changed, something big was different and the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. I walked back to my seat in front of these two guys I now called “friend” and relaxed. I was supposed to interpret the names of the kids walking across the stage, but I found that I didn’t want to. I just wanted to sit – I felt like I had just run a marathon and was totally wiped out! Graduation was over and the throwing of the hats commenced – as I ducked for cover!

The tears could no longer be held back and hugging started! I hugged Fabian and I tried to tell him how proud I was of him but the words just got stuck and every time I let go of him, I grabbed him again for another hug! I think I hugged him 3 or 4 times! Then I did the same with Carlos but with Carlos I was trying to sign how proud I was of him and my hands were just as choked up! I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves….

Carlos – hug #6.

Carlos – hug #100! *giggle*

Fabian – hug #32! *giggle*

My life for the past six years has been defined by these two guys… and now we go our separate ways… Although, we will forever be pals and I will never forget them and my life with them – because it was the best! I will miss seeing them everyday… laughing with them… joking around… watching them grow… Yeah, I am going to miss them but I am happy to get started with the next chapter of my life… bring it!

Bye guys… It’s been a blast!

Fabian’s Graduation party….

So silly!

What am I going to do for a good laugh now? *laugh*

BFF – Carolina, Teddi, Carlos and Fabian!

*I Love You*
Carlos (goofy) and Lil’ CODA Teddi girl!

I wish this is what home looked like…

This just shows the power of photo shop! Scott took the picture and then played with it in photo shop and blammo!
Life is beautiful!

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I have been waiting a long time for this moment in time… I met Carlos when he was a punky little fifth grader and I was a mere sign language interpreting sub. I was as scared of the kids as they were of me – but neither of us knew the other was afraid. Carlos moved up to middle school and quickly became the kid no one wanted to deal with because he was full of attitude, but I liked it and I loved the challenge of getting to know this kid and his friends. When Carlos moved to a new school district in seventh grade I found myself in a full time interpreting job -  I wrote about that in my post Capital “D” Baby – with Carlos and a couple other kids. I worked side-by-side with an Interpreter whom I loved! We got along and we were able to vent our frustrations to each other. There was this one hard of hearing kid, Fabian, in the program whom I hated – really, true 100% hate! Fabian crawled under my skin every day with his attitude and his dislike for everything! Carlos followed Fabian’s lead every time and no matter what it was whatever Fabian said, Carlos agreed with. “The sky is blue!” I’d say and Carlos would shake his head in agreement then look to Fabian for clarity, but then Fabian would say, “That’s just dumb!” Carlos’ face would drop and he’d cross his arms, sit back and say that same damn thing, “Dumb!” There was a no win with Fabian… Summer school I worked with Carlos and let Fabian fade off in the distance. Eighth grade started off rocky because I went to another school to work with another student and the other interpreter stayed to work with Carlos and (my favorite student) Fabian! By the end of the first semester the other interpreter had it with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing director’s shit and quit! I was left alone with (we’ll call the Deaf and Hard of Hearing director IT) IT and went back to work with Carlos. The district hired another Interpreter – although the title “Dumb” would be far too nice here in describing this gal. I took Carlos and Fabian on full time after dumb interpreter yelled at Carlos in class. She thought she was his mama or something – who knows what the damage is there – but interpreters are not supposed to attack the student! *hello* I put up with IT the rest of the year and told Carlos and Fabian (whom I wasn’t minding as much anymore) that I needed to quit because I could not handle working with IT. They begged me to stay! I looked into their eyes and I saw that they needed a strong person in their corner of the ring. I knew if these guys were going to grow up to become strong healthy Deaf adults – they needed me. I needed to clean up and fight off any damage  IT would try to bring in their future. At the end of eighth grade year, I promised them I would stay with them and the day they walked across the stage at graduation – I was going to quit!

Fast forward four years to twelfth grade and a few days until graduation! We made it! Together, we pushed through their high school years and we fought the IT factor and I look at these two boys and I could not be prouder! We have been through a lot together – I could probably write a novel and who knows maybe someday I will… In short these boys went from attitude-ridden, hating everything, to everyone’s favorite kids! Carlos went from hating everything Deaf (including himself) to extreme Deaf pride and loving himself! Fabian went from bad grades and not understanding who he was to the smartest hard of hearing kid in the district and comfortable in his skin! They went from not knowing who they are to being proud of who they are… The transformation of these two boys in the last four years is an awesome story and I would love to tell it… someday. I have had the best (most stressful) years of my life with them and I only hope they feel a little bit the same. They have helped mold me as well as I have them. I am going to miss them but I am happy that the time has come for mama bird to throw the babies out of the nest – go and spread your wings boys and fly!