Last Sunday at church, all the graduating seniors stood up front. The youth pastor presented them to the congregation; we clapped and prayed. And I thought, “Wow, this is weird.”
See, I would swear it was just last year that I graduated from high school. Just last year that my biggest concerns were beating Wes at the class rank contest and figuring out how to wear my hair for prom, wondering if I’d like my roommate at Truman and worrying that my boyfriend might not wait for me to come home for a visit.
On the other hand, I know – even if I don’t want to admit it, even to myself – that in the blink of an eye, Annalyn is going to be the one standing at the front of a church on Senior Sunday.
I feel like I’m in an odd place – halfway between my teen years and hers. Stuck in the middle between my memories of my childhood and awareness of how fast hers will fly.
And as I’ve been thinking about this, I planned to dig up my graduation speech and share it with you all. I thought you might get a kick out of it. But tonight, when I opened my file cabinet and peeked into the folder where I saw it last . . . it wasn’t there.
My speech is missing!
And no, before you ask, of course I didn’t save it on a disk. Are you kidding? This was way back in 1997 – I didn’t have a computer then, believe it or not! I wrote my speech – the day before graduation – on a piece of paper, one that I color coded, carried through the ceremony and put it away for safekeeping.
And now it’s missing!
Also missing? My high school yearbooks. Now, you might be thinking, “Oh, they’ll turn up somewhere. After all, you probably haven’t even seen them in 12 years. Right?”
Wrong. Until a few months ago, my high school yearbooks sat on my bookshelf in my living room. I kept them handy, so every time Smitty or I would run into or randomly think of someone from the ol’ days, we’d look them up in the yearbook.
But when I moved the bookshelf to Annalyn’s room and put away all my books, I forgot to put my yearbooks in a handy location. I’m not actually sure what location they are in.
So now I’m missing my speech and my yearbooks. And all I have for you is this photo of a pasty white Mary on graduation day. (Go ahead, chuckle at my pale face. But just so you know, I was sick. Now don’t you feel bad?)
Happy Graduation Season, friends. Stay cool.
What’s your favorite graduation memory? And do you know where my yearbooks are?
yes, i took your yearbooks the other night while i was over. i’m holding them ransom.
just kidding! i hope you find them soon!
my favorite graduation memory? well, i didn’t have a formal graduation, since i was homeschooled my senior year. but i did have a party, and that was memorable. especially since my grandpa had a stroke that morning, so in the evening after my party was over, we went to the hospital and had a party in his room. complete with homemade party hats! :-)
you call that white?? ;)
I think you look lovely! And my oldest nephew is graduating this year which is weird because I remember him being born. I remember him learning to talk, being our ring-bearer and referring to himself in 3rd person. Now he is a foot taller than me and heading off to college! My baby just turned 8 which means I have exactly 10 years to figure out how to stop, or at least slow down, time!
I agree, that picture of you is lovely. Hope your yearbooks show up. That’s a bummer.
My favorite part of graduation was the joy of knowing high school was over. Many bad memories.
I was sick on commencement day too :-D…in fact, after it was over, my family took me out to a nice restaurant to celebrate, and I fell asleep in my food… I mean I literally fell into my food! Aw…memories! :-D
Well since you asked…I graduated from an artsy fartsy college (think Fame, the college years)
It was a crazy graduation. I don’t know where the champagne came from, but it just kept coming up and down the isle during commencement. Little drunk;P
Pale girls of the world, UNITE!
Your picture is adorable!
I have a great graduation night memory of a kiss from a very special guy — it was something completely unexpected — and something very memorable. One of those, you didn’t see it coming, young love, gives you butterflies in your stomach, innocent yet steamy kind of kisses.
And yes, I know where my yearbooks are — in my nightstand — well, they’re not really MY yearbooks exactly.
See the person I shared that kiss with sent them to me not that long ago because I couldn’t find mine after I moved. We’re still good friends.
What’s up with yearbooks gone missing?…..
you color coded your speech?
my kinda gal.