The claypools on the Skykomish River are a favourite haunt of mine. I love the wild, clean mountain air, the distant snowy peaks and the texture of clay on skin. And plunging into the icy cold water is so very refreshing. Bens and I, some summers, have ridden on tyre tubes from the claypools downriver to Ady Acres, Bens' parents home, which is one road mile and about three winding river miles away. Our lives are at a point of transition now. Bens graduates (magna cum laude, as did his wife!) on Saturday, and has a myriad professional possibilities ahead of him. His dear Mom, Sue, despite ailing health is hoping to attend the ceremony. Eowyn graduates from Kindergarten on Tuesday, leaving the EEU, a school which has been a place of security, challenge, excitement and constancy for her preschool and Kindergarten years. Tomorrow I'm joining Coco's class on a field trip to a playground. She's enrolled in Pre-K at the EEU for September, and Eowyn in first grade at Wedgwood...