Beware: A Massive and Sporadic Doomless Post Ensues, but I AM DONE!
Currently listening to: Joni Mitchell - "Big Yellow Taxi"
Ladies, gentlemen, frogs, toads, rats of doom, candles, running mice, and rabbits, lend me your ears! Or your eyes, whichever suits you better!
I AM AN ALUMNA !!
That's quite right-- I've gone and gradumalated and stuff!!! On Thursday, May 19, 2005, at Drake Stadium at 7:30 pm, commencement began after possibly one of the worst days of my life. Graduation, however, fixed everything because, simply put, it was happy!
When we arrived at the top of the stairs to the stadium, Clint and Ale passed by, saw me, and I attacked them (we were paused during our march by two's-- I was in the third set of two's, having to speak and all-- I stood with my beloved Sarah Taylor! Most fun that was!)
Following that, Emily was pointed out to me, but my blindness and I couldn't see her until she and Ian ran up the hill, at which point I attacked them, too, and I hopped around nervously as they beared it. Once we were told to physically proceed, they joined me in my marching and continued to do so until they no longer could, which was supportive to infinity and beyond!
Dearest Sarah and I did the very sharp synchronized 90-degree turn we had practiced that morning when we reached the field-- few noticed it, but it was at least minimally noticed and, whichever way around, made us amused and giggly.
My speech went all right-- I didn't melt as I'd expected, and my tongue folded over one time, but I recovered promptly, so that was yay. Mrs. Dunn told me to take out the word 'bite' from the sentence, "They read, invent, and bite things as necessary, and I advise you to read, invent, and bite things as necessary in years to come," but I failed to do so on purpose (an action that was strongly supported by the beloved Mrs. Britt). I'm not sure very many cared or followed, but I was glad when it was over.
Once the first kid to dance across the field, a C-lettered-lastnamed kid, danced (or cartwheeled, I cannot recall), some funkies happened. One could see Dr. Barker was thoroughly infuriated, particularly because he had given us a lengthy speech on behaving and making Newnan High School look good that morning at practice. He was rather a facially expressive chameleon when it came down to shaking people's hands. He skipped congratulating those who danced and did stupid things, but he smiled at me, so that's all I care about! Mrs. Cook didn't butcher my name-- Mrs. Dunn regulated the about-to-be-alumnus flow, and when I was about to be called, she gave me a "No, you did NOT" look and said, "You did do it. But you did also do a great job!" and granted me a smile-- I don't think she is angry with me after all. Anyway, I thought I wouldn't hear any cheering because I was so excited to be officially graduating, but I was wrong! I heard an extended and un-missable "FRANCESCAAAAAAAAAA" (I later found out that was Emily :) ), and that was pleasant. I apparently danced back to my seat (so says Clint) although I only thought I was floating, but it was happy.
Emily was called 'in absentia,' but I cheered for her, and apparently, she cheered for herself in the audience-- a sound emission I only wish I could have heard.
Toward the end of the calling-people-to-go-get-their-diplomas process, beach balls loomed and surfed the crowd in front of me (I sat facing the other graduates as did my fellow speakers-- all speeches were wonderful, by the by by -- "FAMOUS AMOS!"). Dr. Barker was, by this point, rather enraged, but everything floated on all right. Leslie did a marvelous job screaming over the graduates as she read "Oh, the Places You Will Go," we cheered, we moved our tassels, we tossed our hats, and we tackled each other in joy.
Yay. Graduation night was interesting, and I didn't sleep much. I spent most of Friday drifting about, and then Emily and Ian magically appeared and gave me an awesome, awesome shirt and much amusement. And then I slept extensively. And then I went stuff-digging in the ATL (quite successfully, might I add) and then Myra, Haley, and Megan kidnapped me and then I stuffed my face and then we watched M*A*S*H* and then we watched A Hard Day's Night and now I'm here and wow this is quite the runon!
W00t!
Self, remember that you didn't trip on the way to get your diploma nor on the way to the podium! By the way, my diploma's all shiny. :)
Up, up, and to Reed! In three months, anyhow.
Ladies, gentlemen, frogs, toads, rats of doom, candles, running mice, and rabbits, lend me your ears! Or your eyes, whichever suits you better!
I AM AN ALUMNA !!
That's quite right-- I've gone and gradumalated and stuff!!! On Thursday, May 19, 2005, at Drake Stadium at 7:30 pm, commencement began after possibly one of the worst days of my life. Graduation, however, fixed everything because, simply put, it was happy!
When we arrived at the top of the stairs to the stadium, Clint and Ale passed by, saw me, and I attacked them (we were paused during our march by two's-- I was in the third set of two's, having to speak and all-- I stood with my beloved Sarah Taylor! Most fun that was!)
Following that, Emily was pointed out to me, but my blindness and I couldn't see her until she and Ian ran up the hill, at which point I attacked them, too, and I hopped around nervously as they beared it. Once we were told to physically proceed, they joined me in my marching and continued to do so until they no longer could, which was supportive to infinity and beyond!
Dearest Sarah and I did the very sharp synchronized 90-degree turn we had practiced that morning when we reached the field-- few noticed it, but it was at least minimally noticed and, whichever way around, made us amused and giggly.
My speech went all right-- I didn't melt as I'd expected, and my tongue folded over one time, but I recovered promptly, so that was yay. Mrs. Dunn told me to take out the word 'bite' from the sentence, "They read, invent, and bite things as necessary, and I advise you to read, invent, and bite things as necessary in years to come," but I failed to do so on purpose (an action that was strongly supported by the beloved Mrs. Britt). I'm not sure very many cared or followed, but I was glad when it was over.
Once the first kid to dance across the field, a C-lettered-lastnamed kid, danced (or cartwheeled, I cannot recall), some funkies happened. One could see Dr. Barker was thoroughly infuriated, particularly because he had given us a lengthy speech on behaving and making Newnan High School look good that morning at practice. He was rather a facially expressive chameleon when it came down to shaking people's hands. He skipped congratulating those who danced and did stupid things, but he smiled at me, so that's all I care about! Mrs. Cook didn't butcher my name-- Mrs. Dunn regulated the about-to-be-alumnus flow, and when I was about to be called, she gave me a "No, you did NOT" look and said, "You did do it. But you did also do a great job!" and granted me a smile-- I don't think she is angry with me after all. Anyway, I thought I wouldn't hear any cheering because I was so excited to be officially graduating, but I was wrong! I heard an extended and un-missable "FRANCESCAAAAAAAAAA" (I later found out that was Emily :) ), and that was pleasant. I apparently danced back to my seat (so says Clint) although I only thought I was floating, but it was happy.
Emily was called 'in absentia,' but I cheered for her, and apparently, she cheered for herself in the audience-- a sound emission I only wish I could have heard.
Toward the end of the calling-people-to-go-get-their-diplomas process, beach balls loomed and surfed the crowd in front of me (I sat facing the other graduates as did my fellow speakers-- all speeches were wonderful, by the by by -- "FAMOUS AMOS!"). Dr. Barker was, by this point, rather enraged, but everything floated on all right. Leslie did a marvelous job screaming over the graduates as she read "Oh, the Places You Will Go," we cheered, we moved our tassels, we tossed our hats, and we tackled each other in joy.
Yay. Graduation night was interesting, and I didn't sleep much. I spent most of Friday drifting about, and then Emily and Ian magically appeared and gave me an awesome, awesome shirt and much amusement. And then I slept extensively. And then I went stuff-digging in the ATL (quite successfully, might I add) and then Myra, Haley, and Megan kidnapped me and then I stuffed my face and then we watched M*A*S*H* and then we watched A Hard Day's Night and now I'm here and wow this is quite the runon!
W00t!
Self, remember that you didn't trip on the way to get your diploma nor on the way to the podium! By the way, my diploma's all shiny. :)
Up, up, and to Reed! In three months, anyhow.
Francesca contentedly consumes her coffee at 12:01:00 AM
