the weekend in pictures
Aside from K and I feeling emotional and sentimental, graduation was somewhat ridiculous.
Middle would have been happy not to participate but, while we agreed to do NOTHING to celebrate his graduating, K and I felt it was important for him to "walk."
We awoke to very threatening skies and one very creased gown.
Apparently, the gowns cannot get wet.
I'm sure this proved interesting in households wherein the graduate wore something white beneath their gown-that-was-the-color-of-an-old-Chevy-Impala.
Also? The folds do not "fall out" and one is forced to find a heat setting on the iron somewhere between "completely ineffective" and "melt."
Because though the weather held during the two hour ceremony (dear GOD, why must they recite The Road Not Taken?!) it rained pretty damn hard before the two hour ceremony, which meant for 300 very wet chairs and a very muddy field.
Middle was close to the front of the processional.
Which really only proved to make me a little miserable as he got his diploma during the first hour...
There he is, getting the handshake. What's that you say? You can't see our darling Middle for the photographers? Sorry, you're upset because the cameramen are completely blocking your view? Fear not. The irony is not lost on me.
There were occasional moments of anarchy. (Youngest wondered how they sneaked the beach ball IN - I wondered how they blew them UP.)
There were plenty of kids who customized their caps (I am pleased to tell you.)
Did you know the "Rat A Tat Tat" thing? I did not.
Also, they had no valedictorian, though there was a guy who spoke whom everyone seemed to love (much cheering). I'll have to ask Middle about him and how he was chosen.
The hat toss was a little anticlimactic. Then again, Middle made sure the whole thing was as anticlimactic as possible. He did pose for me, on the sweltering, muddy field. He put his hat on TOP of his head, rather than on. Then he went and got his real diploma from the cafeteria and we went home.
There he is. My Middle - with his cap and gown.
On the road not taken.
By himself.
(The way he likes it.)
Fear not.
This irony is not lost on me either.
Middle would have been happy not to participate but, while we agreed to do NOTHING to celebrate his graduating, K and I felt it was important for him to "walk."
We awoke to very threatening skies and one very creased gown.
Apparently, the gowns cannot get wet.
I'm sure this proved interesting in households wherein the graduate wore something white beneath their gown-that-was-the-color-of-an-old-Chevy-Impala.
Also? The folds do not "fall out" and one is forced to find a heat setting on the iron somewhere between "completely ineffective" and "melt."
Because though the weather held during the two hour ceremony (dear GOD, why must they recite The Road Not Taken?!) it rained pretty damn hard before the two hour ceremony, which meant for 300 very wet chairs and a very muddy field.
Middle was close to the front of the processional.
Which really only proved to make me a little miserable as he got his diploma during the first hour...
There he is, getting the handshake. What's that you say? You can't see our darling Middle for the photographers? Sorry, you're upset because the cameramen are completely blocking your view? Fear not. The irony is not lost on me.
There were occasional moments of anarchy. (Youngest wondered how they sneaked the beach ball IN - I wondered how they blew them UP.)
There were plenty of kids who customized their caps (I am pleased to tell you.)
Did you know the "Rat A Tat Tat" thing? I did not.
Also, they had no valedictorian, though there was a guy who spoke whom everyone seemed to love (much cheering). I'll have to ask Middle about him and how he was chosen.
The hat toss was a little anticlimactic. Then again, Middle made sure the whole thing was as anticlimactic as possible. He did pose for me, on the sweltering, muddy field. He put his hat on TOP of his head, rather than on. Then he went and got his real diploma from the cafeteria and we went home.
There he is. My Middle - with his cap and gown.
On the road not taken.
By himself.
(The way he likes it.)
Fear not.
This irony is not lost on me either.
Comments
How many kids were in that class?
Mine went to a very small high school where the graduating class was under 200. Short and sweet,under an hour.
I'm off to Google the Rat-A-Tat-Tat
Done!
Onto new horizons for him.
Paola
congratulations. it sounds like you've raised and independent thinker and a strong son. how wonderful.
(btw: i loved the hat customizations too.)
I wonder why they hold it outside in the first place if the g-d gowns cannot get WET. Seems like just plain old bad planning to me.
I too say congrats on being done with HS to Middle. The high school years are WAY overrated.
Congrats to you guys for helping him get there, and not cramping his style too horribly.
Btw, I expect he is gonna be famous but WE WILL NEVER KNOW NOW, will we?!!!
And to you and K - we sat through 423 graduates not too long ago, and those bleachers? not.comfortable.
What a wonderful boy you're raising.
What a rip.
I admire that streak of independence.
Didn't I hear some little tease about a job?
ErinH
Congrats to your boy, blackbird. Well done.
Road not taken and all....
I love how true Middle is to himself and how you both support him in that.
Thus, I am a great fan of Middle.