Friday, 23 May 2008

• Currently Reading Prince Caspian (Narnia) By C. S. Lewis see related

  Graduation

  So I know I promised pictures.  Well, I didn't download any.  :(  Sorry.  Maybe I'll be able to tonight.

  ---------------------

  I will try to accurately describe what the experience was like last night, sitting out on the football field bleachers and watching my brother graduate from high school, but I don't think I'll come close.  Here goes...

  All day, it was cloudy and sprinkling rain off and on.  My mom invited us over for dinner at 5:30.  We sat inside the house with the shutters open, eating take-out Chinese and homemade eggdrop soup, watching the drip drop of sky tears into the pool.  We discussed the possibility that the high school would have to split up the graduates into the gym and the auditorium and would limit the guest count per graduate to two (intended for one mom and one dad).  They even gave the graduates orange carnival tickets to give to their parents.  We laughed that Paul would have to go home after all.  Jokingly, he said that even though he would miss this graduation, he definitely wouldn't miss Andrew's UofA graduation in four years.  Andrew expressed frustration that Paul wouldn't be able to go.  He said that one of his friends would have to give another girl's saludatorian speech, since she was runner up in the auditions; she didn't want to do it.

  When we left the house--Paul went off to Barnes & Noble--it was still raining.  Arriving at the student parking lot, we bespied chairs on the football field and dark splotches of people in the stands.  Andrew pumped his arms in the air and shouted, "Yes!  Thank God!  Someone call Paul."

  So, we did. 

  He was on his way.

  Quickly dressing Andrew in his royal blue gown and cap, we took a couple of pictures in the parking lot with our proud graduate before he set off toward his assigned room.  As we prepared to head over to the bleachers, my mom realized that she had brought the wrong jacket...short sleeve cardigan.  Uh oh.  She drove back to the house while I walked across the track to save seats in the "away" stands because Andrew was sitting on that side of the field, row seven.

  The sky was still spitting, but it wasn't unbearable.  The bench I sat on was empty.  It was still an hour and fifteen minutes before the commencement ceremony began.  I pushed my purse over to occupy room for two people's butts.  People came and sat.  Several of them had piles of blankets and their umbrellas in tow.  The administration stepped onto the field.  Some of them went row by row to dump the collected water off of the plastic chairs designated for the graduates.  It was a lot of water.

  Fifteen minutes later, my mom showed up and then, fifteen minutes after her, Paul claimed his seat next to us.  Then, it started to rain.

  It was a sea of umbrellas that met newcomers' eyes.  The speakers had been wrapped in trash bags and tarps.  The administration was trying to decide what to do.  We huddled together and got dripped on and partially wet for almost half an hour.  Not only were we trying to stay dry, but the wind was also whipping around us, freezing anything that got a touch of rain.  My hands were stiff, holding my purse on my lap to protect my thighs, clutching the digital camera.

  At 7:50, the rain let up.  All of a sudden, a slight cheer rose from the home crowd.  We peered over.  A gathered group of blue had approached the gate where the marching band usually enters.  The roar from the audience--proud fathers, happy mothers, thrilled family and friends--greeted the graduates.  The music from a CD of "Pomp and Circumstance" began.  While we cheered and stomped our feet on the aluminum seating, the weather was kind.  They skipped the Star Spangled Banner and The Battle Hymn Republic and the Alma Mater.  No choir was on the field.  No orchestra or band member was on the field.

  It wasn't until halfway through the valedictorian speech that the rain began again, this time harder than before.  Quickly, the saludatorian and principal went through their speeches.  The administration person who accepted the graduates said that he received a text message that morning from the students, "No matter how hard it rains, please do not split us in two."  My eyes teared up.

  We realized that we would be sitting in the rain for another hour...through 803 names.

  The graduates were soaked. 

  Family members had been leaving periodically throughout the name calling.  Grandmothers who were too cold.  Babies who were too cold.

  My fingers had ceased to curl.  All my pictures were blurry.

  When the last rows stood up to accept their diploma holders (as the actual diplomas don't get passed out until you have shaken the principal's hand), a small swell of claps got louder from the graduates.  It rose until the last person was named.

  Class of 2008 tossed their soggy mortar boards into the air!

  Andrew found me on the track first and we hugged.  I tried taking a picture of my mom, him, and Paul, but my finger wouldn't depress the button.  LOL.  I tried a second time; it worked.

  When we jumped puddles back to the car, all I could think of was the car heater.  Thawing.  I needed to thaw.

  the end.

  -----------------

  Andrew went to the after party and won an iPod nano!!!  And then a car backed into him on the road and drove off.  Hit and run.  The car stopped working and he was stranded at 1:30am.  He called me, I didn't answer.  He called Paul, and Paul drove out to get him.  My hero.

  Now my mom has no working automobile.  She is borrowing mine.

  -----------------

  Paul said I should write a book about this graduation, one that I will never forget.  I have attended 4 graduations (2 from being in the band, my own, and Erin's) at that high school.  All of them sweltering and hot.  9 years since mine, it is freezing.

  The book would be fun.  7 different perspectives.  We'll see.

  -----------------

  The house!  and its troubles.

  We forgot to call the gas company...and then when we did, they needed 4 days notice.  From Sunday to this past Wednesday, we have been going to the apartment every night to shower.  Luckily, the gas guy came yesterday, started our water heater fire, and checked our gas heating, right before it got so cold!  We had the heat on last night...and took hot showers.

  I tried to change out the manual thermostat for a programmable on Monday.  I forgot to turn off the breaker and in transferring the 5 wires, shorted a fuse.  We had no air for a day.  It was HOT on Tuesday.  I pleaded my case to Becky and she referred her dad, who came over and tried to fix it.  He couldn't, so he called a maintenance guy he knew.  Jose went up to the attic and switched out the fuse.  We had to pay him, of course, but it was well worth it.  I returned the programmable.

  However, we are settling into the house pretty nicely.  Paul's office is basically set up, except for his books.  My office is a mess.  The kitchen is beginning to be put away.  Yay!  I love the dishwasher.  Why didn't I use it before?  Such a timesaver.  And according to whirlpool.com, it saves twice the amount of water you use to wash manually.

  My feet are adjusting to the hardness of tile flooring again.

  I love how big and comfortable our bedroom is.  Who knew that space could make you feel relaxed?

  ------------------

  I still have not gotten my stimulus check! :( boo.  according to irs.gov, it was mailed last Friday.  WHERE IS IT!

  ------------------

  We bought ice cream cupcakes at Costco.  They are SO delicious.  yum.

  ------------------

  Too many movies coming out this summer!

  ------------------

  There is no one at work today. 

  Happy Friday!

  • 12:26 PM
  • 3 Views
  • 2 eProps
  • 1 Comment