Day 32

Graduation Day

Jun 7, 2013, 9:42 PM

Steve and I are just getting back to the Hampton Inn. We watched Connor graduate from High School today. Everyone is so happy for and proud of Connor. But let's back up and I'll tell you about the rest of the day. . .  We woke up early this morning, got a phone call, but that's OK. We got showered, I was getting dressed when I realized the top I'd planned to wear to the graduation had a whole in it. Come on, this is the second one in as many weeks. Steve and I were going to have to make a side trip to Kohls. I'd seen one on our way in and it was an emergency! So we went to breakfast and then to Kohls. 

When we got back from Kohls the housekeeping cart was in the hall several rooms up from ours. Then a nice girl came out of a room and Steve asked here if our room had already been cleaned. She said she hadn't done it but yes it had been cleaned. When we walked into the room you could have knocked me over with a feather. When we walked into the room yesterday the bed was made with a duvet on it, when we went to bed last night it was too heavy so I took it off the bed and left it on the bench at the bottom of the bed and I got the blanket out of the closet and just put that on the bed instead. Well the maid had made the bed, if you can call what she did making the bed, by pulling up the sheet and the blanket and left the duvet in a pile at the end of the bed. The bed wasn't even made well. I was shocked and I wanted to complain, but Steve didn't think it was important and you know Steve if it isn't important to him then by God it isn't important. WHATEVER!!!!! Oh and I almost forgot the towels, we had gotten extra towels the day before, now I'm no rocket scientist, but if you take three bath towels out and the same people will be in the room again, wouldn't it stand to reason that you'd put three bath towels back in, I'm just saying. I'm just saying!!!!

We got in touch with Jimmy and Jenine and we all decided to have an early dinner then go to the graduation so that we got good seats. When we got there they weren't even letting people in yet, so needless to say we had our pick of seats. The graduation was blissfully short, there were only about 200 kids graduating, that is always the worst part, just listening to the drone of names, you get excited when your graduate is called, then back to the drone. This time there were no speeches from community leaders or teachers or any of that stuff that no one listens to, however there were several very good student speeches. Plus listening to the accomplishments of the students as they were introduced was fascinating. Of course the salutatorian and the valedictorian were girls, but the really interesting fact was the valedictorian's mother and grandmother had both been the valedictorian of their classes. What a great legacy to pass down to your children, however I'm sure it also comes with a huge sense of responsibility if you just aren't up to the academics. The valedictorian had a weighted GPA of 4.98. That is huge!, just huge and I was so impressed with both girls. 

We had the most fun of the night watching the photographer struggle to get photos of the graduates as they walked off the stage. I'm sure in the rehearsal the kids were told there would be a photographer at the end of the stage as they walked off and they'd be having their photo taken there, but one after the other they just started to walk back to their seats. The poor photographer would go running after them and get them to come back for their photo but of course that drone of names that I mentioned didn't stop for anything. So at one point there was one heck of a bottle neck. Now there were people that were part of this production sitting right in front of us, I can't imagine they didn't see this happening too, and why they didn't do anything is just beyond me. I wanted to go help, but given the circumstances I stayed in my seat and just empathized for the poor man. 

Then before you know it Connor is on his feet and he'll be crossing the stage. I didn't take the lap top with us so I haven't been able to see the photos yet, but I hope there is just one that will do it for me. All in all, it was great to see everyone, we were so happy for Connor to be done with high school. Now Connor it is up to you what you do with your life. Good luck!!!!!!