Yesterday's graduation event was moved indoors at the last possible moment. Mom, Kerry, Lynn, and I stood outside the fenced area to the bowl waiting to be allowed in, being ticket holders, we could sit on the bleachers inside the bowl. When it seemed like the right time to be allowed in, after a few brief rain showers had passed through, everyone was making a mad dash toward the JFK Building (gym). At first, Mom and I headed with the rest up the grassy knoll toward the building but we both realized this was foolish as she had her walker and neither of us would be able to climb that steep, wet hill in front of us. We turned around and headed back whence we came, to the flat area and hoped the others would save a seat for us.
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Just as we got through the doors, a man came running up and announced that the gym was getting quite full and folks would have to show their tickets to get in. We had tickets but no one asked us about them, and we pressed on. Kerry came running toward us, having reserved seats for us on the same side where Alayna would be marching in. Lynn had also gotten seats for us on the opposite side of the gym so she came over and sat on the lower level next to Mom, who had her walker for her seat. Kerry, Jill, and I sat three rows up, but not next to Randy (Alayna's daddy) who had gotten separated from us. He had others in the group with him so he was fine. We had the best seats, especially Mom and Lynn as all the flower girls came past them, as did Alayna, as the graduates marched in. The doors were open, however, and they about froze to pieces in their 'good seats'. If we had known, we could have taken our blanket down to them for wrapping around their shoulders.
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It was so amazing to see the hustle and bustle of the 'team' getting things moved from outside to inside as quickly as they did. Amazing! Groups were hauling in the folding chairs for the kids, others were wiping them off as the heavens opened during the moving thereof, men were attempting to run cords for loudspeakers and setting up the musical instruments for the small group performances....a flurry of activity. I believe, the whole event was only delayed by 15 minutes from the original start time. Of course, the kids were disappointed to not being able to march into the bowl, this being only the 2nd time since 1934 that it had to be moved indoors. While it did stop raining and the sun came out during the ceremony, all of us, including these beautifully clad students, would have been soaked through and through and miserable!
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Alayna was about the first one in our side of the gym, and was seated in the front row on our end, so we could make eye contact all through the event. Many of her friends received special awards for high grades and International Baccalaureate status...wow! Afterwards, we congregated on the gym floor to congratulate our girl, except Mom and Lynn had gone outside through the side doors and missed much of that ado. I was in tears congratulating her, being weepy at various portions of the graduation already, the pomp and circumstance of it all! At one point, I sobbed right out loud, and apologized to Jill if I embarrassed her, but she was fine, kept offering me tissues.
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But when her daddy and grandpa got to Alaya and THEY had tears running down their faces, all bets were off. We all hugged each other and her, and took turns. I went outside to find Mom and Lynn and eventually we got back inside the gym so they could greet Alayna. There was much walking and standing and then sitting done that day and we still had a nice walk back to the car. I half expected to see my friends, Karen and Jan, there since their granddaughter graduated but did not. At least, NOT until I was at the car!! I heard this familiar voice calling, "Kim? Is that you???" and sure enough, parked right behind us was Karen and Jan!!! It had been years since we saw each other and winter does not count since we are covered head to toe, but their daughter, Kelly, pointed me out to them. And today again, I ran into them at the garden show across from Mom's apartment building. She has family in Jacksonville so plans are being made now for them to come see me and them, of course!
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Today's garden show was absolutely fantastic! Beautiful floral baskets, lawn ornaments, craft items, food tents, and soooo many people that I knew! It was like going to Copp's and Wal*Mart to see people, all rolled into one! People I used to work with at Shady Lane, some from church, some from high school, old neighbors, and Late's Restaurant serving perch and cheese curds! Kerry had a blast and so did the rest of us. Lots of walking and standing these past few days, time to rest at home a bit. This morning, very early, the air was filled with sirens and more sirens (AGAIN!!! Another fire!!) With the windows open, it sounded like they were coming through the parking lot so Kerry got dressed to follow them. This time a vacant house was ablaze three blocks west of Mom's. And then the noisy birds and the train whistle and Kerry's coming and going....I need some sleep!
