Graduation

Tonight was the Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2008. First of all, I have a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that it's been a year since I was on that stage, in those robes, in their shoes. The past year has been one of many ups and downs and while the days sometimes seem to trudge on in the slow procession toward the End, when compacted, they seem to encompass no time at all. In short, time flies.

Today was a beautiful day: the perfect day for a Graduation ceremony. It wasn't nearly as hot as the 89-degree scorcher we had to endure one year ago. A light breeze kept the air in the auditorium circulating as the speeches were given and the the diplomas dispersed. The feeling of seeing your friends, these people who you have come to know and love so deeply taking this huge step in their lives, walking the same path that you walked, is a strange feeling. It seems to me like a very delayed reaction. Like I am witnessing an event that should have already happened, from a different point of view, on a different date. For me, Graduation means reflection on all the events that brought us where we are today. None of us are the same as when we started...

Heidi was the one I knew first. She and I rode the same bus to and from Buckeye Valley East. I first came to know her as the girl who rode my bus and hated me. In those days, we were both a little too outspoken and rubbed one another the wrong way, I guess. Her brother once threatened to break my glasses which didn't help in the cementing of our close relationship. For a few years, I was convinced that we would never get along and that was that. But, like all things, people change with time. High school brought us together through band. The long bus rides to and from away games opened up a side to her I'd never had the chance to see. It's amazing how much you can learn about (and from) someone by simply opening your ears and listening to what they have to say. Over the years, we've become closer and closer and today I consider her one of my good friends. Good thing the desire to break glasses isn't genetic.


Davey was second, although he was David then. He and I go way back, sometimes a little further than I'd like to admit. Both pupils anointed by the fonts of knowledge maintained within the glittering halls of Buckeye Valleys North and East, our paths ran parallel for some time until, in 1998, he and I wound up as teammates for a Destination Imagination competition. Yes, we were that cool. Our skit told the tale of one Timmy Tomato, portrayed flawlessly by Mr. Hyer who was bestowed the role of the fearless fruit because of his persistently rosy complexion. While the acting was, of course, top notch, the rest of our skit fell short in many ways as we didn't even rank that year. Oh well. On to bigger and better arenas. In high school and during band, I was able to get to know this hell-bent enigma on a more personal level. He and I became close through no notable series of events, it just sort of happened, as many of the best friendships do.

Lee was the quintessential Cub Scout. Back in the days of old when I was a shrimpy little Scout myself, Lee was always at the head of the pack: tying knots, baking cakes, selling popcorn, everything a good Cub Scout should be doing. If I remember correctly, we were both members of the Mighty Pack 94 and often ran into one another during the many Scouting social events. If Lee was anything, he was helpful. He was always there to point others in the right direction, a job that serves him well considering he has one of the most accurate moral compasses I've ever seen. As with Heidi and Davey, I got to know Lee better through band and in student council in high school. As always, he was the epitome of chivalry, the master at opening doors and laying jackets over mud puddles and, just as I had remembered, he was always ready at a moment's notice should adventure or the stray shenanigan come to call. To this day, few people have matched the personal values of Mr. Zimmer and I find it hard to believe many ever will.

For me, Anna was always "Helen's sister". I'd seen her here and there at Buckeye Valley North but never really took the opportunity to get to know her, a folly I regret considering Anna is perhaps the most high-spirited, uplifting soul ever to come from the Honorable village of Radnor. Band brought us together and Florida brought us close. She was right there with us as we headed off to the wrong park in Universal Studios. My first impression of Anna was being struck by her talent at music. As a freshman, she could far outplay many of the upperclassmen trumpeters. I remember noticing how she held her instrument straight and played with confidence, even as a freshman. That kind of musical mettle is hard to come by especially in the beginning. Throughout high school I had the pleasure of playing alongside Anna in the marching band, and the symphonic band, and concert band, and pep band, and pit band and the Visions combo. Music radiates from her personality and lifts the spirits of those who allow themselves to listen, an enviable trait by any means.

Last is Casey. I find it ironic that the person I most connect with, the one with whom I share so many interests and whose company I most enjoy is the one I've known the least amount of time. Casey is a rare breed. His often reserved personality is speckled with eccentricities which, coupled with his wry sense of humor, make him a generally fun guy to be around. As a freshman, I referred to him as "Army boy" due largely in part to the combat boots, camouflage pants and Under Armor he would wear on a regular basis. Case is tough. He's willing to run like no tomorrow to uphold his unalienable right to chew gum. He'll gladly scale any building to retrieve a lost Frisbee and he makes a conscious effort to carry (at once and at a minimum) three times as many chairs to and from the pep band alcove as anybody else. In the few years I've had to get to know him, though, I've learned that tough-as-nails Casey has the same fears, the same vulnerabilities and the same faults as any of us. What's remarkable is that, not matter what's going on beneath the surface, Casey will always put everyone else's needs before his own. Such selflessness is the rarest of commodities these days. Unfortunately I had to fulfill an annoying obligation called college just as I was getting to know Casey but I'm hopeful that we'll be able to pick up where we left off nearly 365 days ago in the midst of a great, lasting friendship.

I'm not sure if the graduates (we can't call them Seniors anymore) know just what's waiting for them as they head off to college, I know I was barely ready for what laid in store for me, but I am certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that they will do wonders wherever they go. This caliber of friend is rare and I know I am blessed to have the honor of calling such people my best friends.

Best of luck Heidi, Davey, Lee, Anna, Casey and the rest of the Class of 2008.
If you ever want to catch up, you know where to find me.



EDIT: This song came through my Shuffle just as I published this post. Coincidence? I think not.

A Dance 'Round the Memory Tree

It's funny that the one night of the week that I could be using to catch up on sleep I've decided to spend online. The week has been good to me. I am, for the most part, enjoying my new job; of course, every job has its ups and downs. Happy as I am to be contributing to society and earning a real paycheck, it struck me on Tuesday (as I rebooted the PC at my desk for the third time) just how much I'm going to miss out on this summer because of work. One year ago, I was the one complaining that no one could do anything because they were all working. Now I am that person. Oh, how the tables have turned. I complain a little too much, I think.

The upcoming weeks will bring an onslaught of feelings I'd rather not experience again in the form of Graduation and the parties that follow. One year ago marked the closest I've ever been to real depression, and yet it was some of the happiest days of my life. So many huge chapters of my life drawing to a close at the same time was too much for me to handle and the prospect of losing some of my closest friends to the tide of life was weighing on my mind during every spare moment.

This year, after all that I've been through, it is strange to be back in the position to feel these feelings. In some cases, time has stripped away what ties I had to certain people making basic conversation awkward and difficult. In others, time apart has strengthened our bond making things easier. And still there are cases which I can't even discern as having time as a blessing or a curse and those are the cases that worry me the most. My biggest fear is losing my friends, not through argument or the mutual parting of ways but through slow deterioration of the things we'd once had in common. I can feel that happing in several areas that I once held and am still trying to hold close.

I'm not sure how I'm going to take Graduation. Having lived it myself already, seeing my best friend walk the same stage will be a weird experience for me, almost like a delayed reaction; this is all happening a year too late. A year can mean a lot in terms of collecting new memories and losing old ones. I just hope that I am not the only who has made an effort to gather as many new memories as I could while gripping on to my old stockpile with everything that I have. In some cases I feel like I am.

I saw Prince Caspian tonight and heard this amazing song before the credits rolled; it, like so many before it, says all this things I wish I could to my Seniors:

The Call
By Regina Spektor

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word

And then that word grew louder and louder
'Til it was a battle cry

I'll come back
When you call me
No need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never
Been this way before

All you can do is try to know
Who your friends are
As you head off to the war

Pick a star on the dark horizon
And follow the light

You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say good bye

You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say good bye

Now we're back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and now one knows yet
But just because they can't feel it too
Doesn't mean that you have to forget

Let your memories grow stronger and stronger
'Til they're before your eyes

You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say good bye

You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say good bye

Sigh.

Employed

Woah. It feels good to finally have enough time and energy to actually make a post. A lot has happened since my last post from Chicago, including my becoming very ill for the remainder of my Spring Break trip (hence the distinct drop in posts).

School is out and I am home from CCAD for almost four months. It feels great to have one year of college under my belt but leaving was just as hard as coming (but for different, almost opposite reasons). Today I start work at the Graphic Stitch in Marysville. My job is as a sort of in-house designer, workman, extra-set-of-hands. It feels nice to be offered money for the things that I would be doing anyway and the money will certainly come in handy; I'm saving up for a Study Abroad semester in England, Junior year.

I'm off. There will be a longer, more in depth post dealing with by prolonged absence and my feelings on BV's next graduating class soon.