Season Finale: Circle of Life

I feel the need to have a graceful closure to every little chapter of my life.  So, here is the one for the 3-week saga with our lovely swan babies...
 

Pictures 1 and 2 = Circle of Life (Season Finale)

Picture 3 = The Followers... (5 little swan babies remembered -- day 3 of their long, fun and adventurous lives!!!)

Lisle, IL

June 2013

 

 

Where are they???

I went to the Swan Lake bright early this morning, but the swan family was nowhere to be found!  I took a long walk along the 3 connected lakes and could not find them anywhere...  In fact, I went to see them yesterday evening.  They were not at their usual places, so I went home puzzled, but was not in a panic as I am in right now.  Where could they possibly BE??? !!! 

I am only willing to imagine that they've found a more peaceful place, and they are still hanging out together as a happy family!  Maybe some day I will see them again -- the little swan babies will become strong and capable and ready to take on the world!

For now, please allow me to present the beauty and gracefulness they've brought to us...  I am only glad that we're able to capture these precious moments in life!

Picture 1 = My Comfy Ride

Picture 2 = Golden...

Lisle, IL

June 2013

My Swan Babies...

It's been a week since they first arrived in this beautiful world.  I have visited them 13 times and spent with them for over 20 hours.  It's been a true pleasure to see them growing up each day, and it's amazing how easily we get connected...

Swan Babies Day 1 (6/4/2013)
Let me get up there...

                                                                           Swan Babies Day 6 (6/9/2013)
                                                                           Brotherhood 

6/5/13

Thank goodness to my friend who told me last night that the baby swans finally emerged!  I arrived at the babies "home" at 6 AM this morning to capture the long anticipated cuties! 

6/6/13

I tried to surprise the swan babies by visiting them at a different time each day.  Today, I arrived at their sweet little home around 7:05 PM.  They were soooo happy to see me...

6/8/13

Thought I would go visit the swan babies at a different time of the day just to “surprise” them, but I ended up going to see them at every possible time of the day.  It translated to 6:20 AM yesterday morning, 7 PM yesterday evening, 6 AM this morning, 2 PM this afternoon and 6:30 PM this evening…  Thank goodness the swan babies’ home is only 7 miles from my home.  Otherwise life would have been even more exhausting!!

Rain in the forecast for tomorrow.  Hope that gives me a good reason to bring sanity back to life – I am really, truly exhausted!!!

6/9/13

Well, the disappointing news is: it didn’t rain today.  In fact, the overcast weather condition was perfect for photography…  So, I spent another 6 hours of my precious life with the swan babies today!

Got some really neat shots, just don't have the energy to process more pictures tonight.  Since we've collectively been so involved with the swan family over the past week, I'd like you to have an opportunity to meet all of them together and enjoy the graceful scene of their sweet home -- the Swan Lake. 

As for me, I am as exhausted as the swan babies!!

Traveling this week, so this love affair with the swan babies has got to come to an end -- and it will!

  

They have finally arrived !!

The long anticipated little swan babies have finally arrived (June 4, 2013)!!  I tried to surprise them by visiting their sweet little home at a different time each day -- it was 6 AM yesterday and 7:05 PM today.  Since I will be traveling most of next week, I am determined to go visit my beloved baby swans every day over the weekend!

The Graduation: Class of 2008

With all the graduation drama this week and last, I dug out the email I sent to my friends back in 2008 when Michelle graduated from high school...

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Pei Tang <tang_pei@yahoo.com>
To: Pei Tang <tang_pei@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 9:59 PM
Subject: Class of 2008

Michelle graduated from high school today.  As part of the graduation gift, I wrote a 70-page book for her to summarize our lives together over the past 18 years... and this is how the book starts:

May 21, 2008

Dear Chelle-chelle,

It is the big day you have been waiting for -- the day when you finally graduate from high school.  Congratulations!

Yes, this is the book I told you about.  It took me almost a year to write, edit and re-edit it to accurately capture the bumpy, fun ride we've been through together over the past 18 years.

Chelle, I must say that it's been such a rewarding experience for me to see you growing up from a cute little baby into such a beautiful young lady.  I have learned so much in the past 18 years -- everything from testing how long my one-month old baby can cry to being tested by my 16 year-old daughter on how late she can stay out at night! 

Yes, those are the precious years we've had together.  So much joy and tears mixed together with the smell of the Summer and colors of the Fall.  In the end, Chelle, as I look back on our journey together, I smile because you make me so proud!

I vividly remember the first day when we sent you to the day care center.  I took a day off from work because sending you out to the "world" was too big of a deal for me!  Well, 5,266 days have passed since then.  Sitting here today doesn't make me feel any differently -- letting you go and letting you fly still worries me tremendously.  However, deep in my heart, I know you are ready to fly far, far away.  Go for it, Chelle, the blue sky holds a bright future for you.

Love,

Mom