"I I can do it..." Jenny interjects for one grad who nervously hoists his gown-skirts over the last step. "I think I can, I think I can," as he tunnel-visions on President Libby, who is reaching out her hand and... "I got it!" he/Jenny exclaims as a flashbulb immortalizes the moment and his expression shifts to relief as Jenny graciously defers to me for the next voiceover.
If there was anyone sitting in front of us, we might, just might tip the scale from awesome to annoying--because only we could rock MST3k for at least four hours as hundreds of students traverse the stage and double-majors cross twice--but we are closer to the smorgasboard of muffins than our fellow viewers, allowing us to be awesome--yes, I'm going to stick with "awesome" as the adjective--together and yet still be respectful as we burst up from our seats at the right moments as the people we left as sophomores cross the stage in their chic, triumphant regalia. I'm usually not a fan of piping in a live event, would rather be there in the flesh, but with everyone packed onto uncomfortable bleachers at the Edmunds Center across the street, it's nice to give my coccyx and sweat glands a relief while energizing myself with double-chocolate muffins.
Jenny has been up here for a few days, and we talk about life and how we are going to take over the world (perhaps this is only figurative) and she whisks me down to graduation. It's great to see the sophomores graduate; it's the last class we were really, as a whole, close with. It's also the last class that remembers our techniques for hiding Bob the stuffed bobcat around the Wesley House, and somehow, right before the graduation party there when no one was around, he winds up moving from the piano to stand surreptitiously on the toilet tank of the girls' restroom...
After the graduation watch-party we join the throng of people coming out of the Edmunds Center, swarmed by families, congratulatory teachers, and so much praise that they deserve. Mima is there, Ali, Karen, and Rob, their whole families gathered round and taking pictures, people doffing gowns in the Florida heat. The Care Bears have never given this many hugs, and the positivity here could power a small city. At least basic electricity, not particle accelerators or anything.
Ryan is also here, I learn as he gets me round the back with a big bear hug. He's back from several days in New York City, followed by a camping trip, followed by what was supposed to be a road trip, but his friend got broken up with, so turned into doing housework at his friend's parents' house but it was still awesome! Now he's mowing the lawn at his mom's house for the first time in six months, fixing all sorts of things, and, to the shock of all involved, shaving most of his facial hair, allowing me to outdo him with my new beard.
We're still serving, just this time it's for our parents, and we're still building up to something, just mine is Bike & Build and Duke and his is EMT school. We're gonna blow raspberries and put our thumbs in our ear aside open hands--to look like affable moose--at culture which tells us to settle down and get a job; we're going to go where we need to go
EMT school, a nice choice. I have been thinking about that– if you could ask him to describe it to you, and then you relay that description to me (whenever you read this comment), I would appreciate it.
ReplyDelete-bro-ken bones