Congrats, Little Bro'

Today is graduation at Hale-Ray High School.  This graduation is extra special for our family since the last of four brothers turn their tassel.  Four of us, spanning 26 years of education in the East Haddam school system and now, done.

26 years of family happiness and heartbreak, highs and lows, laughs and cries that were guided by our parents.  It is now time to start a new family chapter and put an end to this current one tonight.

Can’t tell you how proud I am of Alex.  He has benefited learning from his three older brothers.  From our mistakes and our successes.  He has taken them all and carved out his own niche, never living in our shadows but casting his own.  He has never been afraid to do his own thing.  Never been one to cave in to peer pressure.  Has always been one step ahead of the rest of his friends.  A leader when everyone else wants to follow.  He has numerous friends that stretch over all sorts of high school cliques.  He never cared who you are or what you do or what your name is, if you are nice, that is all he needed. 

Nikki and I started dating the year Alex started kindegarten and now we are expecting our first kid the year he graduates high school.  Funny how the circle of life works.

I could not be more proud of my little brother.  From his achievements in school(not everything involves a grade, good thing for him ) too what he was able to accomplish on the soccer field, the kid has had a good run and will leave a nice legacy behind him. 

 He has been through a lot and has worked hard and overcome some obstacles that could have hampered other kids his age.  His resilience and drive, and a lot of family love and support has carried him to this place today.  We are all excited to see him through to his next step.

Today I am proud to be his brother and can’t wait to see him accept that diploma and then party through the night with him and his fellow grads.