What is it about Gradu
ation that makes me so sentimental. I look around at all of the kids graduating and I wonder what they will become. Where they will end up. What the world has in store for them. So many big dreams. So much uncertainty. I remember being both happy and sad as my boys graduated. I was happy because they made it through high school, had lots of friends and were headed to MSU with so much promise and potential. They were lucky, I was lucky. But I was also sad. The end of high school meant the end of me being involved in their day to day life and it meant losing control. I no longer would know where they were at every moment. I no longer could keep an eye on them all the time. I no longer had to pack 3 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for their lunches. No more writing on the outside of their lunch bag. No more early, 5:00 AM mornings to swim practice or band practice. No more joy yelled out when there was a snow day. No more band concerts, water polo games, swim meets, proms, homecoming or a myriad of other occasions that mark the rite of passage through high school There would be no more hanging out at our house after games or after concerts or for staying up all night playing video games. No more waking up to one of their friends asking for cereal because they were hungry. And when i would tell them I only had chocolate milk for the cereal they would say “cool!” No more hearing their friends rummage through the fridge or cupboards looking for food. No more loud, obnoxious laughter and music coming from the basement. No more of Anna wanting to hang with them and loving that they all gave her so much attention. Every year Graduation time brings up the same feelings. The same memories. The same happiness and the same sadness. Each graduation brings a new sense of adventure and a new sense of fear. And yet, a true sense of accomplishment. They did it. I did it. We did it.
The following is an old song about Graduation. I still love it.
And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we’re gonna be when we turn 25
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year we won’t be coming back
No more hanging out cause we’re on a different track
And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now cause you don’t have another day
Cause we’re moving on and we can’t slow down
These memories are playing like a film without sound
As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever
So if we get the big jobs
And we make the big money
When we look back now
Will our jokes still be funny?
Will we still remember everything we learned in school?
Still be trying to break every single rule
Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Can Heather find a job that won’t interfere with her tan?
I keep thinking that it’s not goodbye
Keep on thinking it’s a time to fly
Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there?
Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it’s like we’re women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us around?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town
I keep, keep thinking that it’s not goodbye
Keep on thinking it’s a time to fly
It’s okay to be happy and sad all at the same time.
With love from Grand Haven,
Julie