The official school photos at Claireβs school were surprisingly well done and artsy! Hereβs the one I got to keep from Claire. She gave it to me because it had a distinctly Wes Anderson vibe, circa The Royal Tenenbaums. βΊοΈ

The official school photos at Claireβs school were surprisingly well done and artsy! Hereβs the one I got to keep from Claire. She gave it to me because it had a distinctly Wes Anderson vibe, circa The Royal Tenenbaums. βΊοΈ

Molly always knows how to make a fun day happen. She’s been on me for a while to go to San Marcos and actually swim in the river we have driven by many times on the way to the best Kerby Lane Cafe. “We should swim in that river.,” we always say. π
And with a warm and sunny weekend finally upon us, we made it happen today. π
We put in downstream from Sewell Park and slowly inched our way into the frigid spring-fed water while discussing our common dislike of frigid cold water.
But we persisted until the clear green water (yes, it’s clean and green) became downright refreshing. And the wild rice grass in the water all around us became not that weird any more. “I wonder how many people have been lost to the grass,” I joked.



After a few minutes of wading and adjusting, we got out of this cool flow and made our way up to the actual Sewell Park proper and put in again. This time it felt even better, swimming upstream against the current a bit so we could float back downstream in a relaxed way. π
And then we got out and scouted the park a bit more. I suggested that next time we put in up the river and float all the way through the park. It would be like a lazy river at a resort. But we’re done for the day (right?), because Molly seemed tired.
But Molly said, “No. Let’s do it now.”
And so we wound our way down the cool, narrow river and back down to where we started. It was beautiful and refreshing. π
We wrapped up the day with ice cream a short walk away in downtown San Marcos. Nothing says summer like ice cream in a wet swimsuit (and a cowboy hat in my case).
It was pretty damn close to a perfect way to kick off the summer. Btw Claire passed up the trip and understandably chose to rest back at home after her graduation and festivities yesterday. She can suit herself – she’s an adult now. Save all the fun for us kids. π
Claire officially graduated high school today! And she did it with “flying colors” π, as she would say to be silly.
Claire was surrounded by her extended family (her sister, her mom, her grandparents, plus her uncle Tim by video, and oh yeah, me) and given a loving and entertaining graduation ceremony from her school at the Ladybird Auditorium on the UT campus. π
I hope to post a link to the hilarious “cold open” student film that played at the beginning of the ceremony.
We dined at Cipollina, which Claire describes as, “more of a West Austin bistro,” π and then we sent her on her way.
Just kidding, she’s here ’til college starts in August.
I told her I think we should continue to be in each other’s lives even after she goes to college, and I will always consider her like family. (This is our running joke π).


