Holland, redux
So, I went back to high school on Friday evening. Actually, I went back to watch my little sister's graduation ceremony, but it was still pretty random, since I hadn't been back to good ol' HCS in about six years. I'm happy for her, because not only did she win some local scholarship money, but also because she's already graduating with marketable skills, and had a high school graduation that she'll recall with positive memories. Everything pretty much looked the same, but it was not only strange to realize that not only was Jill an adult now, but so was John's little brother and Mary's little sister. And not only did Mr. Weaver give the Commencement address, but he's going gray!!!
So, I suppose that even as things stay the same, they still change. I did visit a bit more than I'd like to admit in the first few years after graduation myself, mostly because I was having a hard time adjusting to college, and then did the same thing at Houghton after graduation. It's hard going from being a big fish in a small pond, especially when there's cultural shock involved, but as the years went by and I got comfortable in my space and myself, I stopped visiting. It was nice to take a step back last Friday and realize that not only did I actually have a few good memories associated with high school, but also that I now do not know anyone still directly associated with Holland other than the few teachers that attend my church.
On another entirely unrelated note: I hate the fact that my "little" sister can now fit into a sundress that I last wore in what, 2000? and looks a hell of alot better than I did at the time. because she's actually thin.
Anyways, the next day Jill and I went to the East Aurora Art Society's annual art show. While the show was no Allentown or Park Ave Fest, it was bigger than I'd thought it would be, and we probably spent about an hour and a half looking at everything. There was some decent stuff there, and there was some cheezy, talent-less, Thomas Kincade crap there, but almost all of it was out of my price range. But I had the good luck of running into an old friend from high school who was just in town for the weekend, and we actually had a decent little convo.--I actually felt like I we actually caught up, as I hadn't seen her in about seven years. But someone nice to see, and I STILL can't believe that Derek is getting married to Becky-if the rumor is true-just doesn't seem quite right. And, I was also happy to be able to hear the band Babik for free. Any band that plays Django Reinhardt's gypsy jazz swing music in the 21st century with the same sort of instruments that he used with his band in the 1930's is alright with me... =)
But I think that the best part about the weekend is that I was able to get to know my sister more as an adult or an equal, and not just as my "little sister." Eight years is a big difference when two people are in their twenties and teens, and while she isn't my first choice of people to live with over the next year, its something that makes the most sense for the both of us right now. So, after Heather moves out, Jill will move in. She's going to a 2 year school this fall that doesn't have dorms, and for awile my parents were at a loss as to where she would live. Canisius College in Buffalo leases some housing to Villa Maria, but they weren't happy with her living in that neighborhood. She could've lived with Great-Aunt Gloria in West Seneca for free, but she wasn't too excited aboout living with a 75 year old woman for her first year of college. Technically speaking, she could always have commuted from home, but we live in the snowbelt, which means that most of the nasty winter storms hit my parents house rather than Buffalo...
So, I suppose that even as things stay the same, they still change. I did visit a bit more than I'd like to admit in the first few years after graduation myself, mostly because I was having a hard time adjusting to college, and then did the same thing at Houghton after graduation. It's hard going from being a big fish in a small pond, especially when there's cultural shock involved, but as the years went by and I got comfortable in my space and myself, I stopped visiting. It was nice to take a step back last Friday and realize that not only did I actually have a few good memories associated with high school, but also that I now do not know anyone still directly associated with Holland other than the few teachers that attend my church.
On another entirely unrelated note: I hate the fact that my "little" sister can now fit into a sundress that I last wore in what, 2000? and looks a hell of alot better than I did at the time. because she's actually thin.
Anyways, the next day Jill and I went to the East Aurora Art Society's annual art show. While the show was no Allentown or Park Ave Fest, it was bigger than I'd thought it would be, and we probably spent about an hour and a half looking at everything. There was some decent stuff there, and there was some cheezy, talent-less, Thomas Kincade crap there, but almost all of it was out of my price range. But I had the good luck of running into an old friend from high school who was just in town for the weekend, and we actually had a decent little convo.--I actually felt like I we actually caught up, as I hadn't seen her in about seven years. But someone nice to see, and I STILL can't believe that Derek is getting married to Becky-if the rumor is true-just doesn't seem quite right. And, I was also happy to be able to hear the band Babik for free. Any band that plays Django Reinhardt's gypsy jazz swing music in the 21st century with the same sort of instruments that he used with his band in the 1930's is alright with me... =)
But I think that the best part about the weekend is that I was able to get to know my sister more as an adult or an equal, and not just as my "little sister." Eight years is a big difference when two people are in their twenties and teens, and while she isn't my first choice of people to live with over the next year, its something that makes the most sense for the both of us right now. So, after Heather moves out, Jill will move in. She's going to a 2 year school this fall that doesn't have dorms, and for awile my parents were at a loss as to where she would live. Canisius College in Buffalo leases some housing to Villa Maria, but they weren't happy with her living in that neighborhood. She could've lived with Great-Aunt Gloria in West Seneca for free, but she wasn't too excited aboout living with a 75 year old woman for her first year of college. Technically speaking, she could always have commuted from home, but we live in the snowbelt, which means that most of the nasty winter storms hit my parents house rather than Buffalo...