You Know Your Kid is About to Graduate When....

One of your staple kids' stores is closing.

Goodbye - it's birthday season and we will miss you so much. Here was the place where it all started for our skateboarder. I will continue to think of you every day by way of the contents of my garage, and the fun we can still have all wet or at the . The "firsts" were done here: first wetsuit, first surfboard, first skateboard, first backpack, first boardshoe, first helmet, first wallet, first bar of wax...whoa, and hey...first drop in, first skateboard birthday party, first skate contest, first Tribune coverage, first-time tryng ON a bikini, first wet feet, first truck upgrade, first board teardown and rebuild, first decktape redo, first pop shove-it, first ollie, first kick-flip, first cast (in green, then pink, then blue, etc)...

You changed lives, you guys...I will also remember you from the signage in my kid's bedroom, a "gift" through your many innovative remodels and of course...."the door" (pictured above). We planned to take it off its hinges and make a desk out of it for college...next year...so soon.

So long . You've no idea what you've done to me. How will I ever remember to stop and buy those essential cards for the very hard-to-shop-for family members, or remember early a holiday or event? Where will I have to drive to now to get nice thank you notes and writing paper? Oh, and do not get me started about Christmas!

Patty, Patty, Patty...we all have until April 23 to shop you to the floorboards and I will do so, responsibly, dilligently and sadly because your cause was a good one and will be missed.

Remembering anything in the zoom-zoom of motherhood is hard enough without having to now remember as well that I must sweep through the Safeway card aisle to remember which holiday is coming up, and I need to thoughtfully select a card, probably now. Oh, and then there's the Rite Aide, too...but while nice, what can compare with the variety and quality of Hallmark? Those guys are the professionals of "don't forget" and "please remember". Do you realize how many marriages you have saved, Patty? How many mother-in-laws you have graced (and just in time) in our little town? Oh, and confirmation? Who did it better for cards, gifts and whatnots to memorialize that milestone? Anniversaries (and I mean the BIG ones)? Father's Day? Mother's Day? GRANDparent's Day? Patty, Patty, Patty, you're killin me...BUT--

Falling in love, raising a family, making memories...Tate and Patty...thank you...this would not have been "Pacifica" for us if it were not for you....