To our graduate:

You did it.  We did it.  I still can't believe after ALL of this planning, and studying, and practicing…..it's over.  Your Master's degree.When we first starting discussing you going BACK to school to get your Master's Degree….Lydia was a baby.  And now? She's not.  You keep saying that the two years flew by.  I'm not going to lie……for us? Not so much.  I know I did my fair share of complaining.  Complaining about the late nights, the lack of days off together……but I want to be sure to do the opposite.

I AM SO PROUD OF YOU.  It takes humility and a true respect for your craft to go back to school at the age of 40.  When you came back from your first day of graduate school, you told me you felt old.  And I'm sure you did.  But what I saw? That you love what you do SO MUCH…..that even though it was difficult, you wanted to learn more.  You wanted to better your craft.  You wanted to commit to passing on your passion to the next generation of musicians.

You came home most nights talking about esoteric music theories that I didn't understand.  But what I did understand? How excited you were to learn.  I understand that you were demonstrating to our no longer a baby daughter that you can learn and grow and study at ANY age.  And for that? I love you more than ever.

We may be a little older, and a little grayer…..but our family is all the better for this experience.  And we are oh so proud.

Love, Carly and Lydia