Pomp and Circumstance, please. 

                Grand-son Cooper receives his diploma from

                   The International School of Stuttgart, Germany

Grand-son Ian receives his diploma from his mom, a teacher in our 

                             local high school.

  Here comes theHigh School Senior Class of 2024!   Seniors ?   But I remember 18  years ago and a lot in between in the lives of two of this year's graduates.  Both refer to me as their grand-father, though by different names.  Cooper is my daughter and son-in-law's son; Ian's mom claims my wife and me as her "second parents".  This blog is an unabashed and unapologetic "let me tell you about my grand-children " post.

   Both are exceptionally gifted young men with diverse interests and talents. They demonstrated one of their earliest 'talents' by delighting in first birthday cakes:

Cooper above

Ian below

       

      Throughout their school years each has achieved academic excellence and recognition. Eight of Cooper's 18  years have been spent in Germany by virtue of his dad's profession.  Along the way, he has become proficient in the German language and his girl friend insists that most of their conversations are in German. His mom told me that last week he had  corrected her German.  Just this week, the German government granted him a life-long resident visa.
    Living  there has provided travel opportunities to visit many places about which I dream.  Last year he spent two weeks at Oxford University in an introductory medical school "camp".  

    While I face challenges with simple computer functions, Cooper has long been building his own.

This Fall he will enroll in the science program at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Here are a few pictures from his 18 years:

First haircut

Riding hobby horse that had once been mine

The latter was taken on weekend when I baptized him and his sister 

                                   With Nana  

With Cousin Jackson who also graduated this year  

Thanksgiving in NC      

Recent trip to Athens 

    Ian graduated Magna Cum Laude.  Named a North Carolina Scholar, he was among the top 10% of graduates county-wide.  Beyond his academic achievements, he has excelled in other pursuits, including learning to play a banjo, teaching himself to play guitar, learning welding, and most of all being an outstanding baseball player.

    Named his conference's Most Valuable Player in his Junior and Senior Years, this year he made All State first team.  A few months ago, he signed a commitment to play college ball.  Beyond his profession, his dad has a seasonal lawn care service and Ian has long been his valued assistant.

     Here are a few glimpses of his 18 years

                                                   He and Losko are curious about the visitor

                                                               Pitching came early 

      Ian excels as  pitcher, catcher and shortstop as well as maintaining a hefty batting average

  

                       Banjo lessons with former Grand  Ole Opry performer Stan Brown

          Watching a game  with my colleague, Dr. Richard Horn, who pitched in the first ever

                                                 Little League World Series

    "Congratulations" to them and to the graduates whom you know.

     Satchel