We had Devin's National Junior Honor Society induction tonight, and I couldn't help but reflect on my own induction into National Honor Society, not my sophomore year, or even my junior year, but, yes, my SENIOR year of Highschool. I had always been JUST beneath the grade requirement, having an 87.something when you needed an 88 to be considered. All of my friends, even my boyfriend, were in Honor Society, so, throughout high-school, it was just something that bugged me. I always felt that little bit left out, that little bit inadequate. Then it got personal. As we got to be seniors, I really wanted to be inducted, as NHS members wore special collars at graduation, and damn it, I was going to have one of those collars!

The day of induction at our school was a mystery, as was whether or not you would be inducted. The ceremony was an assembly for all, and we went down to the middle school auditorium, and I sat in the audience, with the rest of the student body, watching most of my friends, who, of course, were sitting up on the stage. Then the members came down into the audience, carrying unlit candles, "tapping" their inductees and escorting them to the stage to light their candle, sign the registry and be pinned. My best friend Jeanne, a member, walked around and around and around that auditorium, and finally, I SWEAR when EVERYONE ELSE who was being inducted had already been tapped, snuck around behind me and tapped me in! I was going to have one of those collars at graduation! Finally! I had made it IN!

I went up on stage, and lit my candle, and signed the registry, in very shaky handwriting for how keyed up I was! I stood there, and finally, could faintly make out my parents' faces in the FAR back of the auditorium, part of the ruse. I looked down and realized there was a REASON my mom had tried to get me to wear a skirt that day!

Today's induction was not a mystery, and Devin looked every bit the part, with his navy jacket, tie, and wise beyond his years smile. Reflective as it might have made me on my own life story, I look forward, even more so, now, as a proud mama, to his. It is only just the beginning.