I have two – count ‘em – TWO graduations in one week. Back to back. Thursday night (tonight) is middle school graduation for my youngest and Friday night (tomorrow) is high school graduation for my oldest. SNIFF!
I’m proud.
I’m excited.
I’m sad.
I’m happy.
I’m going to sit at two ceremonies – two plus hours each – back to back nights.
And because they are both girls, they each wanted hair appointments and makeup appointments before their respective big events. So I will be at the hair salon and makeup counters both days.
The days won’t be without drama:
The middle school graduation is NOT assigned seating.
The high school graduation IS assigned seating. Whew!
They predict thunderstorms Thursday late afternoon when the ceremony starts.
Friday is supposed to be 90 degrees and sunny.
It’s not all about THEM!
To explain how old I feel … I started writing when oldest was one year old. I’ve been writing romance for 18 years.
I sold when youngest was 2. I sold my first book 16 years ago.
First book published when oldest was 7 and youngest was 3. I’ve been published for 11 years.
The Bachelor was picked by Kelly Ripa in 2002 when oldest was 10 and youngest was 6. The Bachelor was chosen as the first Romance on a nationally televised bookclub 8 years ago.
Funny Memory:
When I started writing, we took a trip with my oldest still in diapers. At the airport, I remembered I’d forgotten the diapers. Husband turned to me and said, “but you remembered the laptop.” 
These two days are the biggest of my life next to having them. And their Bat Mitzvahs.
We’ve had ups and downs – hey they are teenage GIRLS – but they’re amazing young women now and I couldn’t be prouder!
And a special note to them: I love you girls more than anything! Congratulations and remember you can do anything you dream of.
Anything.
PS – I’ll probably be MIA today – hair and makeup appointments and all that. But I’ll check in when I can!
Carly Phillips would like to take 100% credit for all her stories but the truth is, Carly’s strength is writing family, emotion, funky elderly people and animals. She couldn’t plot her way out of a paper bag, which is why she smartly found her plotmonkey pals early on in her writing career. Thanks to their support, Carly is now a NYT Bestselling author of 23 plus novels. Because writing doesn’t keep her busy enough, Carly is also a wife, a mother of one preteen and one teenage daughter, the primary care giver of her soft coated Wheaten terrier and an expert carpool mom.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Oh Carly, how wonderful! I can imagine it’s both a happy and a sad time, but the best part is that it’s a good thing. A positive thing. It’s the way things are supposed to be.
And with girls, of course you get drama LOL. We need to primp, it’s in our genetic makeup. (Most of us anyway). Enjoy, and to Carly’s 2 daughters – congrats and good luck!
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I do know where you are coming from Carly. The only emotion you haven’t felt yet, and won’t until youngest graduates from high school, is that of terror and excitement that you will now have an empty nest. And yes, I will admit to both when Heather graduated.
The fact that my baby would be out in the world, terrified me, even if she was going to college and staying home. Now that she is in L.A., 3000 miles away, I am still terrified, but so proud of her and what she has accomplished.
I was excited because now I could concentrate on hubby and I. We were able to plan things for just us that didn’t need to entertain someone else. Trips that, as adults we would enjoy but she wouldn’t. Or have to worry about leaving her home alone (although she is not one to have parties, so I never worried about that). We bought an RV, we’re on vacation now. I don’t have to plan around her time off from school. We packup the dogs and leave.
And I got an extra bedroom out of the deal too. LOL
You’ll be fine. Remember, that is what a parents job is- to raise them and toss them out of the nest when the time comes, but still be there when they falter. That’s so they can do the same thing whent he time comes for them down the road.
Have an awesome time this weekend and know I am sending you cheers for a job well done.
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Congrats to the whole family!
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Congrats to your girls, Carly!
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It seems like the older the kids get the time seems fly by faster.
Enjoy your day with them and take lots of pictures.
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Congratulations Carly to you and your family.
I cannot imagine how surreal these next few days are going to feel but you should be proud that both your daughters have successfully completed these milestones and have many more to come with you by their sides. Have a great time celebrating!!!
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Whew! That is a lot this week. I cannot imagine mine getting out of high school. I barely survived when she left elementary school.
Have fun and take lots of pictures! :)
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Congratulations to your girls and to you!
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Congratulations to your girls and the whole family!
I can honestly say, Carly I know how you feel. It’s an exciting time but scary, happy, sad…all rolled into one.
Cher
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~Talina
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Congratulations Carly to you & the girls.
Enjoy, don’t be sad. This is just another step on the path in life.
I’m not someone who was troubled with the empty nest. It just is the way it is suppose to be. Again, enjoy.
Have fun celebrating your “double” graduations.
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What a great week for your family. Congrats all around.
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Congrats to you, hubby and the girls, Carly! What wonderful milestones–theirs and yours! No go enjoy!
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…erm…NOW go enjoy! *headdesk* I kan tipe gud. Srsly.
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Congratulations Carly! Have fun at both graduations. It must be such a trip for you. You get two girly days in a row…Yay you!!! Tell both your girls congrats. Kudos to you as well for all the gains you have made since starting out. Can’t wait for your next book.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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congrats on the graduations…..Amber and Autumn said to give Jackie their best.
As for assigned seating…. they don’t do that here…first come first seated…lol. And we have a huge family….and approximately 20 showed for Amber’s graduation earlier this month…I warned everyone to be there an hour and a half early…they did…we got the first two rows completely behind Amber….LMAO…. standing room only in the end…. Needless to say….I’ve warned them all to remember this same strategy for Autumns next year…lol….oh…and it lasted 3 hours once it started…ugh… BTW….I might have missed it but where is little miss Jackie going to go to college???
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Congrats! My “baby”, of 4 children, just graduated from high school 2 weeks ago. It is bittersweet, yet making me feel old. But at the same time, it’s a whole new start for them. :-0
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Carly, I know you’ll have a wonderful time(but hectic) with your girls. I remember when my son graduated from High School and College. I was never prouder.
