Dear 1036: Celebration Display

Greetings Dearly Beloved 1036 Clarence,

It has been so special this month to celebrate the 20th anniversary of my Julian 8th Grade Graduation.

I stepped down the front stairs on the morning of Wednesday, June 8, 2005, to enjoy one final walk to Julian as a student.  Later that day, I came down those stairs in red attire for the graduation ceremony.

On Sunday, June 12, my parents invited family over to you and we celebrated my graduation.

Taking a cue from what Eric did two years prior, I created a display of my accomplishments in middle school, and some from my elementary school years.  I placed it all on the dining room table for people to view during our celebratory gathering.

As I looked at all that was on the table, I marveled at the experience, memories, and accomplishments.  It underscored that middle school gave me so much to celebrate.

Together with my other memories of you, I know that you have given so much to continue celebrating you.  Besides Julian, in the words of the poem "A Puerto Rico Regreso", you are truly "my beloved world" and "I am in love with the land where I was born", for you truly brought me alive.

I think about how so many marvelous wonders happened to me in middle school, and when I came home from school, being in you was when the Holy Spirit was stirring in me from all those wonders and inspiring me to build on them outside of school time.

Like the Pentecost Sequence says, the Holy Spirit has given me "joys that never end", especially because of you.

With much gladness, joy, and gratitude for you, I declare that you shall never fade into the background, but remain deep in my heart as that beloved place.

We remain ever connected:

All my relations.

Blessings of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Paul