Tradition and life lessons

This past weekend, the AuburnWeasleys joined in the final celebration at Toomer's that honored our Oaks. Oaks that have been part of the landscape of my childhood, college experience and adulthood here in Auburn.

Today we watch as, branch by branch, our Toomer Oaks are cut down.

As part of the Auburn family we have to redefine our tradition of rolling the beloved Oaks at Toomer's Corner. Not by choice, but due to the actions of another. However, those actions will not,and can not redefine our dedication to our Auburn Tigers. Those actions will not, and can not redefine our spirit. Through the sadness and tears as we mourn the loss of our trees, we must remember our spirit is strong because of our traditions. We are a family because of what we believe in, what we value and what we cherish.

 Lets us hold strong to our memories as we move forward and show everyone that we are an Auburn family not consumed by grief and anger, but one that is victorious due to our adversities. No matter what a football season brings, what other team's fans might do to hurt us, we will rise up, stand strong and be ALL IN.

Moments of clarity... aka teaching AleCam how to drive.

Learner's permit. 2 words that make parents shudder in fear and dread the need to go anywhere.The twins have been learning to drive for almost 6 months now after achieving their permits in October, and in that time I have come to many conclusions:

• My boys could be drivers for the Knight Bus.
• Though I believe I am talking clearly with my instructions,  to the under 16 set I must be speaking  in my best "adult from Charlie Brown" impression. All they hear is "wa-waaa-wa-waaaa-wa-waaa" as soon as the car doors are closed. 
• The twins have been ruined by Mario Cart as far as driving is concerned. They are so used to the Wii wheel responding at the slightest nudge, that it has taken them forever to acknowledged that a 2 ton Ford Expedition actually expects you to turn the wheel to make a proper turn, that the car needs definite input from the driver to move properly, and no, you don't have the ability to shoot weapons as you drive down the road.
• Curbs do actually force you back on the roadway.
• No, the Expedition can not take a turn on two wheels, Cam.
• No amount of screaming or slamming your imaginary brake makes the car stop properly as they zoom up on a stop sign, curb, pedestrian in a crosswalk..... We won't even talk about approaching stopped cars at a red light. 
• Those handles attached to the roof interior come in handy. 
• The sight of a car approaching the passenger window during a poorly executed turn can reaffirm your relationship with God. 
• This generation has been cheated by the lack of hood ornaments.  I remember using the Thunderbird emblem on my parent's car as a checkpoint for keeping the car steady and centered. I am tempted to glue a Mario figurine to my hood to see if it helps them find the center of the lane. 
• Parking spaces need to be wider, but on the bright side, I no longer need a gym. I get plenty of exercise hoofing it the 2 miles to Kroger after the kids park the furthest spot possible from all other cars in the parking lot so they don't have to practice pulling precisely into a space. 
• 15 year olds can channel their inner "old man" and think 15 miles under the posted speed limit is fast enough. They don't always do it, so evidently their "inner old men" have dementia, but we have to plan on extra time to get anywhere if they are driving, just in case.
• Seat Belts are an amazing invention.
• I see payback in 7 years.... the twins will be 22 when Jacks gets his permit. 
• Speed bumps are not just a random suggestion to slow down....they mean it.
• It can be quite difficult to remember left and right when under stress.
• The windshield wiper controller has a hair trigger...they have yet to make a left turn without the wipers going on.
• Not matter how many times you repeat something, it's never enough.
• People teaching Drivers Education for a living can never be paid enough for their incredible patience and equally incredible suffering.
• The amount of visible grey strands in my hair has tripled.