Gradiation
I've meant to update my journal before, but I feel as though I have to now. I guess I've graduated... though I'm not entirely sure. Yesterday was a strange one. The rehearsal started at 9 am and I had to take Kyra to it. Sarah was kicked out of her house for the rest of the day (for reasons that I can explain later), so she and I were going to hang out. Kyra was going to hang out with her boyfriend, Andrew and another friend, but that other friend backed out and Andrew had to get the oil changed in his car. It was then decided that she would hang out with Sarah and I and Andrew would call me when he was ready to join us. I'm entirely sure why, but my phone apparently decided to freak out and not accept any calls. Seeing as I only had his number stored in my cell and Kyra has a bad memory, we had no way of meeting back up with Andrew so we went to my house and watched the Fiddler on the Roof (at least up to the intermission). I dropped Sarah and Kyra off at their homes and returned to my house. Up until this point I had a dull, yet annoying pain in my head. By the time I returned home (roughly 4), it was unbearable. I downed three aspirin and stumbled to my bed. Thirty minutes later my Nana and cousin, David, arrived. Apparently the medicine had by that time kicked in and I groggily sat to dinner. I didn't feel like eating, so I didn't eat much. Throughout the meal, I kept being called by Alex and decided to ignore them, because it is the pet peeve of every member of my family to answer a phone during dinner, especially when the meal is deemed “special.” He kept calling, so I decided to excuse myself, thinking that it had better be important. It was. Apparently ... someone hadn't received ... something that I had sent via email, and needed a physical copy of said ... thing that night. I then made a mad dash to my computer, hastily printed it out and returned to the dining room. There was an opening of graduation presents (tools, shoe polish, a manicure set (?), and inspirational books), and I rushed to my room to dress. I then bolted out the door and sped through Conway. I ended up tying my tie while driving with my legs above the speed limit and was forced to park several blocks away from the auditorium in which the ceremony was held. When I reached the auditorium, I found Sarah and asked her where her family was. I'm not sure what exactly I said, but by today all should be revealed to her. She told me where they would be and I found them. That was the first time that I've spoken with her mother and I'm afraid it wasn't the best of first impressions, seeing as I was supposed to be seated in a matter of minutes. I ended up giving the ... item to Lori Ann, Sarah's sister, and proceeded to my spot in the line of graduates. The ceremony was long and boring and it was difficult to hear. I found it hard to believe that one of the events that I've been looking forward to for my entire life was as dull as it was. Then again, perhaps it was the drugs. On stage, I forgot to smile, but I did get my diploma and that's all that matters (to me at this point of time).
After the ceremony, I felt much better and ended up running into so many people that I fear that I'll never see again. Oh, well... I guess I can write more on that at a later point in time. After I received my diploma, I was determined to find Sarah, for it was time to meet her family. The timing was perfect, because she (finally) told her father about us, and her grandfolk were there. We exchanged greetings, took several pictures, and were greeted by several other graduate friends. After all this, she met my sister, who is visiting from NYC. We then took several pictures. Next, we met up with Alex's parents and, once again, took several pictures.
Sarah's family invited Alex, Riley, and I to join them in eating dinner. We ate at Chili's and, since I'd already eaten, I mostly chatted and ate part of a bowl of soup. Sarah's grandfolk were quite friendly and, when Sarah had left the table, we spoke of corn and farm life as a result of Alex's refusal to eat his corn on the cob. I got the feeling that Sarah's family didn't think badly of me, and was later told that it was true.
Dinner was “taken care of,” which made me feel very guilty. I left a tip worthy of the bowl of soup and Dr. Pepper that I ordered and Alex left a very large one (that pretty much covered the total cost of his meal). It was after this that we were told that they had already left a generous tip of their own. I'm sure our waitress was pleased. After dinner, Sarah, Alex, and I watched a movie at my place and left by about 3 am. Riley, sadly, was unable to come along because of certain issues, but I believe the three of us enjoyed ourselves.
Altogether, yesterday didn't seem like one day at all. So many things happened and so many things changed within 24 hours that it feels unreal. I guess I'm the same person that I've always been... whoever that is, and my relationship with my friends will remain the same... at least for the next few months. But I guess I won't think about that, at least not now. I'll save that for another post.
-Justin
After the ceremony, I felt much better and ended up running into so many people that I fear that I'll never see again. Oh, well... I guess I can write more on that at a later point in time. After I received my diploma, I was determined to find Sarah, for it was time to meet her family. The timing was perfect, because she (finally) told her father about us, and her grandfolk were there. We exchanged greetings, took several pictures, and were greeted by several other graduate friends. After all this, she met my sister, who is visiting from NYC. We then took several pictures. Next, we met up with Alex's parents and, once again, took several pictures.
Sarah's family invited Alex, Riley, and I to join them in eating dinner. We ate at Chili's and, since I'd already eaten, I mostly chatted and ate part of a bowl of soup. Sarah's grandfolk were quite friendly and, when Sarah had left the table, we spoke of corn and farm life as a result of Alex's refusal to eat his corn on the cob. I got the feeling that Sarah's family didn't think badly of me, and was later told that it was true.
Dinner was “taken care of,” which made me feel very guilty. I left a tip worthy of the bowl of soup and Dr. Pepper that I ordered and Alex left a very large one (that pretty much covered the total cost of his meal). It was after this that we were told that they had already left a generous tip of their own. I'm sure our waitress was pleased. After dinner, Sarah, Alex, and I watched a movie at my place and left by about 3 am. Riley, sadly, was unable to come along because of certain issues, but I believe the three of us enjoyed ourselves.
Altogether, yesterday didn't seem like one day at all. So many things happened and so many things changed within 24 hours that it feels unreal. I guess I'm the same person that I've always been... whoever that is, and my relationship with my friends will remain the same... at least for the next few months. But I guess I won't think about that, at least not now. I'll save that for another post.
-Justin