Monday, March 19, 2012

Magicker


True story: My daughter chose the high school she wanted to go to when she was 9 years old, leafing through brochures and catalogs lying around the house during her older brother's high school search. She looked through one catalog in particular and then announced, "I am going to this high school." Four years later, she did, soulfully navigating the crazy-making high school admissions process in New York City. Back when she first informed the universe of her intention, I asked her why she wanted to go to that school. She said, "The cafeteria looks like the dining hall in Harry Potter." I didn't question further. She was a foodie and a believer in magic, even then. The photo above was taken on Friday last, in said cafeteria. My city girl is now on a beach in Mexico, with two friends and one of their mothers, experiencing spring break in paradise. As she weighs where she will go to college, may she ever continue to work hand in glove with the universe.

29 comments:

  1. She's certainly a girl with a plan. Gotta love that!
    m.

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  2. Yep. I was going to offer an "amen" too. So I will. Amen.

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    1. Let's have a whole chorus of Amens! Thank you, Mary Moon.

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  3. that's amazing. what clear eyes, in both the literal and metaphoric sense. i remember the high school horror days in NYC ... so wonderful she knew where she wanted to be!

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    1. Ah, Susan, unless one has been through that insane high school search in NYC, one will never understand.

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  4. Lovely photo and well done to her for putting her plan out there and making it happen!

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    1. e, she has a way of doing that. nice to see you!

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  5. That is solid reasoning. And from what I can see in the background, it really does!

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    1. ellen, i knew you would understand her reasoning! xo

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  6. the thing about the harry potter books/movies is how much i truly wish i could have gone to a school anything like that and the dining hall is one of the reasons why.


    i envy that she knows what she wants. i've never been that person and i always wished i was. i know it has to help to have you as a mom!!!

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    1. dottie, you give me way too much credit! she deeply wanted to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She later observed that science was magic that had already been figured out. or something like that.

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  7. I sigh whenever I look at a photo of one of your angel babies...Something in the eyes reminds me so much of what I see in the eyes of my own daughters. I love her reasoning for choosing the high school that she chose and I am sure that the fit was absolutely perfect for her. I think about her often and pray that whatever college she ends up at will turn out to be her perfect fit, as well. As adults, we often put way too much analysis into how we make our decisions so I am glad that your beautiful daughter is only four years away from having made a decision about high school based on the Harry Potter cafeteria. I do hope that she uses some of that wisdom when choosing a college. I truly do:)

    Love and big hugs,
    Deb

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    1. Debra, thank you. She has some good choices it turns out. She is taking her time making a decision. Hugs, dear one.

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  8. Hoping that my comment went through. I have been having some google issues lately:(

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    1. I think everyone is having google issues lately! but yes, i got your lovely comment. thank you!

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  9. It seems as good a reason as any. I wanted to go to Columbia University (or Princeton - ended up at Columbia) because of all the dark wood, stained glass and fancy grounds. That worked out well for me. The universe speaks to us in strange ways. It's great that you went with it. You are kinda amazing. xo

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    1. Gary! when were you at Columbia? Could we have been there at the same time??? No, I am older than you. But maybe I saw you on the street as I am right there in the Heights still. Thanks for being here.

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  10. Knowing what you want in life is half the job. My old school was founded in 970, and the building in which I lived was the oldest residential building in Europe. You might also be interested to know that your very first Mayor of New York (Capt Thomas Willet) went to the same school.

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    1. Cro, don't make me look it up. What school was that? In what city? Fascinating!

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    2. I was at one of the world's oldest schools; The King's School, Ely. Wiki will give you a rough guide!

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  11. A Harry Potter dinning room would have sold me too.
    xo

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  12. I have five very different children, but I think it's very cool that your daughter is so similar to the one of mine that is in the same grade. A neat and comforting and very cool coincidence.

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    1. Deb, a very comforting and cool coincidence, because if your girl is like mine, they are corners of peace and gently absurd humor in a hectic world. sounds corny, i know, but so true. so, is your girl applying to college too?

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