Class of 2007
On a cool, crisp September evening in 1995 I loaded a two year old in a stoller, and the four and six year olds gripped the sides of it as we walked to open house at the elementary school. We went inside to Allyssa's first grade classroom, where the teacher greeted us all with the words, "Welcome to the Class of 2007!" Parent after parent chuckled at those words. After all, 2007 was so far away, and who could imagine these little people wearing caps and gowns, being awarded their high school diplomas?
But time has a way of rushing past, so quickly its nearly audible. And here we are, just days away from Graduation Day, 2007. I'll be loading up the stroller again this Saturday morning, with a five month old, and I am sure the 14, 16 and 18 year olds will not be holding on as we walk to the field. I will be hanging on for dear life.
I can't imagine what the day is going to be like for me. I cry every morning on my way to work lately, thinking about it. I am so proud of this girl. She's weathered so many storms on her journey to graduation, and I am so grateful that with the help of everyone who loves her, she was able to make it through.
In the years between first and twelfth grade, she survived a divorce, the death of a sibling, a handful of moves. She became pregnant at 16 and is now the mother of a beautiful 17 month old little boy, who will be in attendance when his mother receives her diploma. She's worked hard, she's stumbled, but she always catches herself and pushes forward. I like to think she gets that from her parents, but maybe life has forced her to be strong.
So on Saturday morning at 10 am, I'll be standing in the sun (hopefully) and when my beautiful blonde daughter gets her diploma, I know I will flash back to the little blonde girl in the denim dress on her first day of first grade. The 101 Dalmatians backpack she carried, the new box of crayons tucked inside with her lunch money. I was misty-eyed that first day of school, and I will be on the last, too.
Congratulations, class of 2007!
Congrads to your daughter and yourself.
This was a really nice blog to read this morning. My daughter just graduated from college, I often find myself seeing my kids as children; a certain playground or place, a gesture, word, photograph or dream just blows my mind back and time seems to move in such a strange way. The emotions are so inseparable even when they seem almost incompatible.
Thanks.