Goodbye to 2024 - Launching the Bird

 It is time to say goodbye to 2024. It really was a year of transition in the Fagella household as Anna graduated from high school and headed off to college.  Many people have asked Joe & Theresa how they are adjusting to life as empty nesters.  Rather than empty nesters, a better term may be "bird launcher" as her parents feel that they have mostly prepared her to launch off on her own.  Anna has already acknowledged some of this preparedness after a semester in college (apparently the ability to do laundry and clean up after oneself is a rare skill for college freshmen).  

There were many highlights and milestones in 2024, including:

  • The first major snow in at least 3 years.  It was only 5 inches, but that was a lot!
  • Anna & Theresa got to enjoy some Broadway musicals together, including Frozen as well as & Juliet.  Separately, Anna got to see Wicked in New York with her cousins.  Theresa got to see Jesus Christ Superstar and Funny Girl with friends.
  • Lots of travel opportunities for the year.  Anna went with the choir to Nashville, took a spring break trip with her mom to southern Utah, a weekend trip to New York for fun with her cousins followed a week in Massachusetts with her aunts, a quick Virginia Beach trip, Ohio trips to visit her grandparents and a trip to Massachusetts again for Fagella family gathering.
  • It was a year of milestone birthdays, including Anna's 18th, Theresa's 50th and Joe's XX (you can guess).
  • Lots of final activities for Anna - the final choir concert, the final soccer season, the final choir concert, the final performance with Vienna Jammers (Theresa is hanging in with the adult jammers group), the end of girl scouts, and the final "take your child to work day" for Anna and Theresa.  In fairness, it was the only time Anna attended the event, but it was still fun.
  • High school graduation, which included Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Tim & Aidyn making the trip from Ohio to attend.
  • VCU orientation and college drop-off.
  • Summer jobs for Anna at Crepe Amore and at Wolf Trap National Park.
  • Voted in her first election.
  • Completed her first semester of college, where she navigated a new environment, managed her classes, learned to get around the city via public transportation, and came home with some additional ear piercings.

 The title of this blog is "Anna Grows" and she has certainly grown in so many ways.  At only 18, she has opportunities and experienced many challenges, not the least of which was starting high school in the midst of the pandemic and the impact of long-haul COVID on the family.  Through it all, she has learned to manage, proven she is both independent and resilient and kept her sense of humor through it all.  She was ready to launch in 2024 and has many adventures ahead.  While her parents have a place in the nest for her to stop by, they know she is up to navigating the challenges of life and are proud of what she has accomplished so far!



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