Making a Transition - Week of Aug. 24th

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality." ~Lao Tzu 

A transition is defined as the process or period of changing from one state, form, or condition to another.  

Alan Watts is quoted as saying "The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." 

Wednesday marked the beginning of a new chapter for Cam.

He woke up at 5:45am ready to attend his first day of a new program in his continuing education.

The Forest Hills Transition Center is a supportive, student-centered program designed for young adults with developmental disabilities who are preparing for life after high school. The goal is to help students build the skills and confidence they need to move toward greater independence at home, in the community, and in the workplace once school-based services are complete. The Transition Center program serves students up to age 26.  

It was an eventful first day for Cam settling in.  

After he arrived home, we were on way northward to see cousins visiting from the east coast and have dinner together.  It was a beautiful evening.  Our grilled meal tasted like summer.  Everyone was excited to hear about Cam's first day of continuing ed.

Friday marked another first for Cameron.

We had tickets to see a concert at Fredrick Meijer Gardens outdoor amphitheater.  This was Cam's inaugural experience at the outside venue.  Chris was dropped off first to secure the location for viewing, since it is first come, first served.  Jane and her son arrived about 30 minutes later.

The artist, Myles Smith, is newer to the music scene and is best known for his 2024 hits, Stargazing and Nice to Meet You.  He's 28 years old and taught himself to play guitar and piano and started performing at the age of 12.  He holds a degree in sociology but has said that music is his passion.  In 2025, he was an opening act for Ed Sheeran.

Cam was a little hesitant about the experience, wondering if it would be too loud.  When the first singer appeared, the excitement grew and Cam's concerns were all removed.  The concert began at 7pm and didn't finish until after 9:30p.  The energy was electric and Myles Smith had a sold out show!

We remained until the very end.  The only disappointment for the concert newbie was how crazy it was trying to exit the parking lot.  Cam decided that some of the other drivers were not being nice and he called out some rude ones from his vantage point in our van.

Our trip north for the weekend was relaxing.  Once again, we shared dinner with our extended family and friends.  Our beach time was not as long as we had hoped, but even a bit of time is better than zero time! 

Camology Quotes:

On Tuesday evening, we were invited to an open house at the Transition Center.  Upon arrival, Cam was recognized by one of the teachers his mom didn't know.  It turns out, that teach was a summer session instructor many years ago.  Cam later relayed to his parents that evening:

"It always pays off knowing a teacher even if it's just for a very short time!"