laurelin_kit | Graduation: We Survived 2005

So, a few days ago, I graduated from high school.

I started crying while we were waiting in our rows to go in. All the people I'd known for six years were all lined up in their navy robes, waiting to leave and go to the real world. Rob led one more senior class cheer. Cassie and I sniffled together. I hugged Alan Barnes and congratulated him and he said wouldn't it be funny if hell opened and swallowed us up in the middle of graduation? So I made him admit he'd seen that episode of Buffy, too.

Mr. Murphy's speech made me cry. It was all about last times and how he'd never teach us again, which made me extra sad, because this year was the first year I'd actually had him for a teacher. All the other speeches were touching, but unfortunately said the same things, so yes, graduation is just as long and drawn out on this side of the podium. Except Christa's speech, which was much better. I liked hers and criiiied. I got to sit next to Natalie, since we're alphabetically close, and we whispered and sniffled through the ceremony, and lucky for me, Grant sat in the row behind me, so I could see him. Unfortunately for me, Becky sat far away from me so I couldn't see her.

When I went up to get my diploma, I waited to hear how many people cheered for me, as one does, but when i got there, I was so panicked and everything went silent. I hollered for all the people I loved when they went up to get their diplomas. At the end of the ceremony when we stood and threw our hats, Rob led the last senior cheer. I love our class.

After the ceremony when we filed out, I ran into James, who picked me up and tossed me around because I am a tiny thing. ;) I cried, stopped crying, started crying again, repeat ad nauseum. Everything was a blur of crying and laughing and feeling like the whole world was wonderful and I'd miss it so much. Kristin was crying and I hugged her twice. So happy but so sad.

Despite all the familial bullshit, my aunt Elaine, aunt Ann and uncle Richard, and Poppy and Agnes all came, as did my grandmonster Gamma. And Tommy was there! Stage manager Tommy! He has two eyebrows now! And he's dating Robyn, a friend of mine from SFA.

After graduation came Project Graduation at Andretti. First I went to the go-karts and raced around and PASSED ROB, MWAHAHA! Then Grant smoked his celebratory cigar and we walked around the park some. Bastards wouldn't let us on the kiddy playground. Keith and John came to Project Graduation, as did Garrett and Zeke. It was nice to see John again. I hadn't seen him since he was kicked off campus. We went upstairs and played laser tag and I so pwned your ass, Grant, don't even deny it. I did. Definitely. The Bitch Pack WON. Then I played my Star Wars game. YAYYYY, MY STAR WARS GAME! I BEAT IT! Then there was laser tag again and Keith kept shooting me, damn him. Then paddleboats, then shooting games, at which I OWNED and stayed at the game and beat it far after Grant got bored with it and moved on. Then we cheated at putt-putt golf, which is the national pastime, not baseball, as Hollywood would have you think. And by 'we' of course you understand that to mean Grant and I. Becky was off doing immoral things with her boyfriend. ;) At some point we saw magic. MAGIC! No, seriously, this guy made things disappear and reappear and cards flip and WE HAD NO IDEA HOW. It was amaaazing. He was seriously skilled. Then we got tired and made our way to the second floor and took over a big cushy chair and lazed around giving people cavities for a long time. Possibly the happiest time ever.

And then Becky and I were a little bit gay and there's photographic evidence.

I won an ugly dish set and Brittany Jones won a car. Where's the fair in that? :)

At five in the morning, we left. Grant gave me my graduation present: a book of Pablo Neruda poetry. I almost cried. I love you. Then we went to the beach to watch the sun rise and a couple of PRICKS did the equivalent of sitting next to you in an empty movie theatre. IT'S THE WHOLE DAMN BEACH! GO SOMEWHERE ELSE THAN TWENTY FEET AWAY! Assholes. Anyway, so we moved farther down the beach and watched the sun rise. It was beautiful.

Later that day, after we'd slept, we went back to the beach, but within five minutes of arrival, storm clouds gathered. So we went to our separate houses and got dressed in normal clothes, and then he proceeded to get me addicted to a new drug called 'World of Warcraft.' Then at 10, we went to go see Revenge of the Sith again, coincidentally four rows away from Seb, Angie, Kari, Rob, Jon, Zeke and Steven. WE HAD NO IDEA. Weirdness.

And yesterday we went to a pool party at April's David's house, and the boys sunk the S.S. Differently Abled that April and I were sailing on. (The raft.) After the party, I gave Grant his graduation present, which was a DVD of Say Anything and a copy of High Fidelity, the book.

Then I woke up today and started writing this entry.