Saturday was Willow’s graduation. The weekend was very frustrating and emotional for me. Frustrating because there was a lot of waiting around without anything to do, and because we had to pack up Willow’s dorm room. Emotional because…well…she’s graduating. It made me reflect nostalgically on my own high school graduation. It made me feel very old. As did listening to the 80s music at the PALS’ (Parents’ Association of the Louisiana School) graduation party. And also emotional because it means that Willow is leaving the nest. I wasn’t very sympathetic to my family when I left the nest and Willow isn’t very sympathetic to us. I guess what comes around goes around. Willow is so full of potential and possibility. It’s an exciting time. So it was a roller coaster of emotions for me. I expect every parent experiences this or something like it.
The senior recognition ceremony and the graduation were both very nice. They had representatives from the class of 1988 and 1998 there. There were roses on the chairs for the graduates. They had the juniors and sophomores sitting behind the seniors on the floor of the gym. When the ceremony was over, the juniors charged into the empty senior seats. That was funny. There was a strong feeling of community that was very nice.
Willow’s room is now wall-to-wall junk. There’s still stuff in my car. It took two cars to get her home. But she was mostly packed when we got there and packing her up wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.
In all it was a good weekend.
