Prom 2022

May 22, 2022

Dear friends,

              I send this album as my way of delivering photos I promised. Feel free to download and add as whimsy moves you until next Sunday, when I’ll remove sharing.

              Last night was such a joy! You were lively and loving and beautiful, and it was an absolute triumph—more than just climbing the tower of a Senior year. I’ve known some of you your every year at Roosevelt (Francoise, Kyle, Rona, Seraphina, Sofia), and others of you I’ve come to know and admire and adore over these last two very hard and strange years; but on this side of the era, Ms. Plesha and I agreed that last night, last night made us feel truly better about what has been so hard a year: you were dancing right on the top of it and embracing this good, good community you have made, and we felt utterly fortunate to be there as witnesses and guides and whatever else comes of our time together.

              But last night also had such a bittersweet sting for me: A couple weeks ago, Maisie performed her last with an orchestra to which all three of our daughters devoted time and pride: our family has reached its end there. Here we are now in the fast march of these culminating rites, joyous, hard-won, which will include more concerts and the last day of school and graduation (of course) and finally the day Maisie leaves for the big life she owns beyond us. Prom was the second of these celebrations—Maisie poised and beautiful and surrounded by friends—and I was proud, happy, but so sad too, full of love for Maisie, and love for you all.

              So here is a congratulations to you, and a hug to go. We’re in it now, everyone, and I’m with you in this delirious tumult of transition—in the excitement, the trepidation, and the love that comes in the final appreciation and grasping tight to the friendship, knowledge, experience, community, and routines of daily kindnesses and small mutual joys you’ve intricately grown in this ending time, this ending place.

              It was a joy to be with you last night, and I write to you with

love,

David Grosskopf