Here is the poem I wrote for Bruce’s graduation with an associate’s degree in computer information systems. We had a surprise party while his family was here so they could celebrate with us. He got to see his old friends Scott and Mario, and was totally shocked! Soon I will post about Christmas… 
The Things You Carry
For Bruce upon Graduation
2009
In your arms you carried three tiny girls
and books as heavy as each
balancing diapers, cooking, and cleaning
with late nights in front of the screen.
In your mind you carried math for months
followed by accounting and, gasp, writing!
But just as quickly as you craved freedom
Dreamweaver and html set you free
In your soul you carried the heaviest load
the fear of failure mixed with the will to succeed,
the uncertainty of your degree,
the uncertainty of your future career
In your heart you carried your love for all of us,
including yourself, proving to everyone
that you could be smarter than you ever thought
and you could go farther than you ever knew.
In your arms you carry a 6, 5, and 3-year-old,
the best-ever recipe for homemade bread,
the tools to make the house sparkle like a jewel
and a well-deserved associate’s degree.
In your future you carry your dreams,
a web site that will walk you there,
and the knowledge that we will
carry whatever you cannot.
