'Twas the last day of school ...

[dipicious]

This morning, I slept in until 7:30 . . . something I haven't done on a Friday in a long time. I got ready and Heather came to pick me up for breakfast. Her dad commented on my bringing books ... we picked Missy and Jenn up and then went to Putter's for breakfast. Mariah, Larissa, and Ryan were already there. "I can see by your shirt that you're not coming with us," was Mariah's greeting . . . no Busch Gardens for me today. We all sat down and ate breakfast, which was more delicious than Denny's and cheaper too!!! Thanx for recommending it, Byron! So, we finished breakfast, and as our oh-so-cute waitress was ringing each of us up (separate bills; makes it easier that way) Mariah, Larissa and Ryan left for Busch Gardens. Missy then proceeded to reach into her bag and pull out three folded sheets of computer paper and handed one each to Jenn, Heather and myself. I opened it up, read it, and this overwhelming feeling of joy and warmth welled up inside me. Heather then proceeded to cry after reading her note and Jenn got sappy as well :9) Oh my am I blessed to have the friends that I do! I love U guys!!! After breakfast, they dropped me off at school, 'cuz I'm a dork and had books to return and wanted to see the last Improv-A-Thon ever at River Ridge. I dropped off books in Mrs. Henderson's room, hung with Alison and Ashley while waiting for Sara to get out of her yearbook meeting, went to lunch, then went to the Improv-A-Thon. Mike Tarnowski and John Krevins, guys who graduated last year, were there. They haven't changed much at all. John is still the "loser that no one wants to act with" and Mike was as "lame as ever." Still it was nice to see them. I told Missy, Jenn and Heather that I would go up and do a scene, but I felt out of place in the drama room, like I was an outsider watching from behind a mirrored wall. There were some funny improvs, one in particular that was disgustingly hilarious, having to do with Beavers, Logs, and a river as metaphors for sex and genitalia. Erickson would have stopped it had his head not been buried in a yearbook he just happen to be signing. The one person I enjoyed seeing most up there was none other than Alex Cysz :9) The kid just got this look in his eyes, almost as if he had the entire world in the palm of his hand and had the option of leaving it be or crushing it to pieces. His performances were utterly hilarious, that's a given, but there was a certain unexplainable something extra there, only present when this kid was in a scene. He truly is amazing to watch. Should he ever be in a play, movie, etc. in the future, (which I am more than willing to bet he will be), I strongly urge you to go see whatever it is just so you can watch this kid in action. You're jaw will drop, guaranteed. Erickson ended the Improv-A-Thon early, which made us all sad. 'Twas the last day of my sophomore career, a year I dreaded, but got through in one piece, thankfully. This year was filled with much drama; those lost will be dearly missed; friendships gained will continue to prosper and grow; friendships that made it through will only continue to get stronger as time progresses. It is all thanx to my dear friends and family. Summer, here I come!

I thought about
Leaving but I couldn't even get outta bed
I'm hangin' cause I couldn't get a ride outta town
Now anyone who really wanted me to be down
Come 'round

Thought about
Singin' but I couldn't 'member all of the words
Breakin' but I couldn't get the pieces apart
Laughin' never knowing what the joke was about

Now I'm down
And I wonder how I never got the burn
And if I'm ever gonna learn
How lonely people make a life
One strain at a time

Forgot about
Everything and everyone I needed before
Tryin' to get a handle on a reason to shine
Pickin' up the pieces that are falling behind takes time

And I wonder how I never got the burn
And if I'm ever gonna learn
How lonely people make a life

All this time I wonder how I never got the burn
And if I'm ever gonna learn
How lonely people make a life
One strain at a time and still shine