Update: Thank you everyone for your sweet words and funny stories. I enjoyed them all. Corrie came down and we had a nice time at the ceremony. No tears. All smiles. It was great and very rewarding.
Winner tonight is: Paintergal! Congratulations. Take a look in the store and pick a fabric with blue, white or black in it!! Let Corrie know.
See you next Thursday!
My son is graduating from High School today.
My son is graduating from High School today. I'm just not too sure about all of this.
I don't like the changes that are coming.
But I love the young adult he has become.
I'll try to focus on that today and not the fact that my little red headed boy is moving on in the world. 
In honor of the Class of 2009, we're giving away One yard of fabric with blue, white or black in it, commenters choice!
Leave me a happy/funny graduation memory comment.
I don't want to be sad today.
Random Drawing after the Pomp and Circumstance.
Hum it with me.........
Aww, looks like I'm first unless I take too long to type and someone sneaks in before me, which is ok as the random generator thing rarely ever picks #1. :(
ReplyDeleteMy graduation was okay, my hairdresser bailed so my sister ended up doing my hair (up in a banana clip - anyone else remember those??) And my best friend walked with me in the "Grand March" as I didn't have a boyfriend and I didn't ask anyone and originally planned to just walk by myself. Yes I'm THAT kind of confident. Hope your son has a fantastic time, and congratulations on getting him to this milestone in his life!
When my daughter graduated (homeschool) last May, at her ceremony w/ 1 other girl, I had to speak (my LEAST fave thing to do) and I told the journey of our homeschool adventure. I said that some days there was crying and pouting and a need for time outs and sometimes my daughter had a rough day too. :D That's all I've got for you, besides CONGRATULATIONS to the Graduate!!!!
ReplyDeleteI bought my stash from Pink Cuarter Shop. On top of that, my Janome 6500 sewing machine within weeks of my master's graduation (well not the ceremony but when the university told me that I have completed everything that is required). Until then, I have made three quilts and two on-going but because I cut my right foot with the rotary cutter, I took a short (two weeks already) break after six months of sewing.
ReplyDeleteYou want a funny graduation memory? Take a look at this graduation speech I gave 25 years ago (when you must have been in school or college too):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9WKa07U9Gc
I graduated in 1989 and I think the funniest part of it is now looking back and seeing all the taffeta dresses and big hair...just what were we thinking!! ;o)
ReplyDeleteI have no funny stories so you don't have to enter me, but I just wanted to wish your son all the luck in the world and Congratulations. My oldest daughter is graduating in 2 weeks and then off to college...where did that time go?
ReplyDelete~Karen~
On my graduation cake, my aunt had a rice paper picture of my senior photo. My nephew kept saying, "I wanna eat her face!" Considering we got along like oil and water, it made everyone laugh.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I enrolled my son in kindergarten, there was a sign, "Welcome Class of 1996!" That was when I started crying, and for every milestone after, I cried. Not uncontrollable sobbing, but crying is okay--happy and sad tears are part of who we are as moms. I have three sons, and got through all their milestones somehow--
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you and your son for a job well done. My graduating class was so big that I did not no either people that I sat by at graduation. The guy next to me asked me what I was doing afterwards. I told him that my family and I were going out to dinner. While we were sitting at dinner that guy shows up and asks if he could join us. I didn't even know his name. It was so awkward and funny and my family tried so hard not to laugh. He then came back to my house with me and went out with all my friends....till this day...I have never seen him again. Still don't know his name.
ReplyDeleteHe looks ready to take on the world! Bittersweet indeed.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in school I was not a Good Girl; I dropped out, then slunk back the following year to complete my senior year. At my graduation there were friends of mine perched in the trees on the town Green who hollered support for me when I got my diploma! As you can imagine they weren't dressed (and didn't act) like the parents and siblings who attended! I loved them and was honored by them and embarassed by them all at at once.
Even though you are a bit sad, be happy that you have done a great job raising a young boy to adulthood. Congratulations and thanks for the chance. I have one more year to go and I'll be in your shoes...
ReplyDeleteWhen my youngest graduated two years ago, for his party we had a movie theme since he was majoring in film (has since switched majors).
ReplyDeleteWe rented a popcorn machine and had hot dogs and pop. Also had a cardboard cutout of Captain Jack Sparrow standing in the living room. We decorated with lots of other movie stuff- but you get the idea.
Enjoy the day with your son.
I always wanted a red headed son...I also homeschooled but not to graduation. No funny stories....I am a crier....so I am no good to you today. If you want someone to cry with you...I am the woman for you!!! Crier for hier.....now that is funny. But I would cry with you just because...
ReplyDeleteI don't have any really funny graduation stories, though when I graduated I had one girlfriend who had an awesome after graduation party in the large barn/garage....yep I tasted my first alcohol there...now I thought I was being sneaky..whenever i went out in high school I always woke my mom up when i got home..normally i would go in and shake her shoulder and whisper "I'm home" this time I was scared she would smell the alcohol on me ( I had had like 2 glasses of boon's farm wine..if anyone remembers that) so I stood in the door way and said in a loud whisper "mom I'm home" like 3 times..she said..ok...of course 10 yrs later we relive the story and i find out I didn't fool her at all...she knew all along...cause that was the one time I didn't go to the side of her bed...lol Silly me I should always have remembered that mom's know all!!
ReplyDeleteAw, so bittersweet! Congratulations, and best wishes for him in the future.
ReplyDeleteI can barely *remember* my high school graduation, much less come up with a funny story from it (25 years ago - ack!). Of course, I was an Army brat, and it was my third high school, so I didn't totally love the place anyway! All I remember from that last year was the indignity of having to take gym with a bunch of underclassmen, so that I could meet their graduation requirements. :-)
Congrats!! He looks ready to take on the world. I don't really have any funny graduation memories...I was too focused on planning my wedding...I graduated the 17th of June and my wedding was the next Saturday, the 24th. (btw, it will be 9 years married this June) :P
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! My kids went to private school and one of the traditions during the graduation ceremony is to have a candlelighting ceremoney with the parents. How it works, the students all line up across the front of the auditorium and the parents stand across from them. The prinicipal would light the candles of the parents candle and then all on cue, the parents light the candle of the student as a representation of them becoming independent and making their own way in the world as a beacon of light. It is a nice idea but it is long and there is only so much eye contact and sweet words that can be said while all those candles are ignited. Well...the boy next to us was restless and moving around, and low and behold he caught the tassel on his mortar board on fire. And then is trying to blow it out but instead it just keeps getting closer to his face. Finally his dad leans over and slaps the tassel between his hands and puts it out. So much for a serious moment. We were all hysterical by the point. :) Today is a wonderful day for your son. We would never want our children to not finish those important steps. My son graduated from college two weeks ago. It was a joyous occasion. I hope that for you today. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the graduate!! When my oldest graduated, we had been home schooling. She wanted to have a graduation ceremony to signify her completion. We got together with two other parents who also had graduates and started to plan. It was mayhem. Everyone had their ideas but no one wanted to take the helm. I finally wrote out a whole script. It was funny to watch the graduates as they progressed through the evening. I had written things like "walk to the other side of the room and sit in the first row". Every little detail was played out. I was so exhausted by the end of the evening. I think it would have been easier to coordinate a wedding then a graduation. It was not funny then, but as I look back it was like doing a kindergarten graduation instead of HS :-)
ReplyDeleteGraduation- my kindergartener is graduating in a week or so, too. Complete with caps, gowns, pictures- the works! How did she get so big so fast and how did our world decide to OVERDO everything? If they play pomp and circumstance at her Kindergarten graduation, I think I might throw up.
ReplyDeleteWhen my cousin graduated, we hear her name, but didn't see her. Then Dad pointed to some blond haired girl (cousin usually brunette) and all of us are like is that Mallory, really?
ReplyDeleteMy daughter just graduated from pre-school...the songs and hand drawn pictures from my 3 year just melt my heart. She enjoyed every day of school, I can only hope she carries that enthusiasm for her entire years at school.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you and your son...many blessings and much luck to him.
My eyes well up with tears EVERYTIME I hear that dang song! You be glad you've got a good kid today! Love the announcement!
ReplyDeleteI don't have kids, so no stories that way. But I think I still have nightmares of playing pomp & circumstance OVER and OVER and OVER again for my HS's graduation ceremonies...I don't really like that song anymore...
ReplyDeleteWell my graduation story is about my hubby's sister. She was graduation from college, and we went along, with our new baby, the first grandchild. So before the ceremony we are milling around outside, and my SIL is holding the baby. Somehow we got lost and couldn't find my SIL and the ceremony was about to start. So we are sitting in the bleachers, and the graduates walk in - and there is my SIL walking in her cap and gown....holding the baby!!! It was so funny!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to your boy:) And to you too:)
How about this quote I read about graduation (author unknown): We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart?
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your day Des. There are many milestones ahead and you will enjoy them all!
I don't have any specific graduation stories. I just remember when I graduated HS I felt SO good, like my life was now going to start! It was a good time. I was ready to tackle the world and leave my small town "life" behind me. I always felt "bigger" than my little town. But, where am I? In a small town and LOVING it! Crazy how that works. Best wishes to you as your son leaves to pursue his "bigger life"
ReplyDeleteWhen I graduated I got my hair done at a hairdresser but I didn't like it so when I came home I redid it myself! What a total waste of money.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy yourself. That's what being a parent does to you. It makes you sad and happy at the same time. :-)
gordandalisa(at)gmail(dot)com
When I graduated from college, my darling mother was ironing my gown and talking. She put a big iron print on the back of my gown. I remember being irrate. Make sure your iron is on low and that is all you are doing at the time!
ReplyDeleteI've got a graduate this year too. And I haven't started her graduation quilt yet! I told her i wasn't so sure it would happen. So I used the excuse of waiting to see . . . she wants a football quilt. Everything she has is football. I wanted to make a young lady quilt for her. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I'm sad, too. My beautiful baby daughter graduated Valedictorian night before last from High School. Love that child sooo much!
ReplyDeleteI've had a few graduation experiences in my life, but most of them have not been very entertaining. However, I did find a way to break up the monotony at my sister's award ceremony. We were clapping so much and I was getting really bored, so I started clapping different rhythms. It was still long and boring but I get myself going. Good luck tonight!
ReplyDeleteI've always been a klutz, so when I graduated from high school and all the family came to watch, what happens I trip going up to get my diploma. I was so embarrassed my face was red, I laugh now because it was par for the course.
ReplyDeleteCongratulation -
Oh my. I can't even imagine any of my kids leaving me. I'm in the process of developing a shrinking ray for just that purpose. Ask Sara. :) I don't really have any graduation stories except that I had to sing our alma mater with my arch enemy. I think my band director did it as a joke. Have a good day and Congrats to Woody!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was graduating from H.S. I was so excited to show of my cap and gown to my parents...I put it on ran up the stairs...my dad was doing dishes, he turned to me and under his breath I heard him say "J@#*s"...that was my dad's way of seeing me all grown up...I think he still thought of me as the little girl that would sit on his lap with my baby doll and watch Sesame Street...
ReplyDeleteOh the range of emotions with a child graduating from high school! I was SO proud while being SO worried about the next step, that I went from smiling and laughing to whimpering and a few tears when my only son graduated! Of course all of this was hid from my macho, smart little boy!!
ReplyDeleteAwww...congrats to your son. Hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteFunny story, we handed our principle marbles when we shook his hand. He had nowhere to put them all. =D
Here is my graduation story from high school. In Ontario, we used to have 5 years for high school. If you wanted you could "fast track" and finish in 4 years. The way they did our ceremony was your name was called in alphabetical order, you went up to the stage got your diploma and any awards then sat back down. The person who was next after you stood at the corner of the stage. Well, the person who was before me had fast tracked in 4 years. He ended up with a 98% average, won every subject award and quite a few scholarships. I ended up standing on stage waiting for about 5 minutes which was embarrassing enough but then I had to follow him, humbly accept my diploma and sit back down which took me all of about 30 seconds. That's my story!
ReplyDeleteWhen my baby brother graduated highschool, I hopped on a two hour flight and suprised him by being there for his ceremony. Have fun today!
ReplyDeletecongratulations on the graduation. It is an end to a part of his life but a beginning to a new more indepentant one which is the cirle of life as it is to be. It seems like yesterday that my four graduated. The boys went to college and came home all the time so I had not much time to miss them. Linda Gerig
ReplyDeleteHmmmm... a happy graduation comment. Well I graduated in a class of about three hundred. We were organized to walk in two lines, and randomly I was assigned to walk next to my best friend. What are the odds? It was fantastic!
ReplyDeletemillkara [at] gmail.com
I'm sorry but I don't have anything funny today either. My dear, sweet boy Jordan is graduating next Wendnesday and I am having a hard time with it myself. He has taken such good care of me and I will truely miss him when he is gone. We raised them well though.
ReplyDeleteMy graduation party was at my grandparent's lake cottage. We used to go there for every birthday, holiday, and just for fun all of the time. It was a beautiful day, sun shining. Since then my grandparents have moved to Florida, so that is one of those great memories that I have from when I was younger. :) I loved those parties!
ReplyDeleteOh, graduation is a piece of cake!! Wait till he goes on his mission! I don't have a story...or anything funny for that matter. I did make my son a t-shirt quilt for graduation. (using all his HS t-shirts) He has it with him now while he is on his mission. It makes me happy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great photo :) At least you know you won't be the mom who has the kid that moons everybody like some guy in my class did! :D
ReplyDeletecongradulations to you and your son!! such an exciting day!
ReplyDeletewe are heading down to cal. next week to see my husbands brother (the youngest) graduate. i can't imagine having my last one graduate and heading off into this big world. i have about 17 1/2 years to prepare for that! :)
Don't put me in the drawing....I am barely able to keep my stash in control now. But I just wanted to write from this Mother's heart to yours......the best is still to come. I thought my world would end when my kids went off to college. Silly me, they returned as even better and sweeter if that was possible. I often say, I miss the little children that lived in our house, but they have been replaced by these wonderful adults that I love with all my heart.
ReplyDeleteHang in there, and know that tears are justified. Just enjoy the moment and pat yourself on the back for raising a fine young man. XXX Annie
Awww. I feel for you. I think it happens so quickly we don't expect it. All of a sudden they are all grown up.
ReplyDeleteMy little story is that my Mom wore a lovely orange silk dress to her graduation circa 1963. The dress was made for her by my Grandma. Short sleeved, fitted skirt to the knee, and two little tucks at the waist. That same dress fit me perfectly when I graduated, so I wore it to my high school graduation. I still have the dress and still love it-though that is the only time I wore it. It no longer fits- that makes ME sad!
Maybe one of my girls will wear it to their graduation--we'll see! I think that's not until 2017 and 2020!
Kari
I wasn't supposed to go to our oldest daughters graduation. I was confined to bed, pregnant with our youngest. Of course, there was no way I was going to miss it... I think my daughter was a wee bit embarassed that her "old" mom was pregnant...HE HE... Our youngest wasn't born for another 3 weeks...UGH!! I was HUGE!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations....I can only imagine the bittersweetness of it all.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby and I started dating our senior year of High School, so I have a picture of us with him in his blue gown, me in a red one. At the time I remember how grown up and cool I thought we were, and I see that picture now and I can't help but think just how YOUNG we really were!
Also, my baby brother graduated from dental school this week. I have three brothers and in 2 more years they will all be doctors. I used to think I was the smartest kid in the family (was kind of cocky about it at times) and soon I'll be the only non PHD'd dummy of the bunch. Serves me right. :)
Congrats to you son!!! That is a great accomplishment. I just graduated with my associates degree in December after working on it for years...11 years. Wow that is embarassing!!! But I did it and I hope and pray it doen't take me another 11 to get my BA degree or a masters after that... or even combined.
ReplyDeleteAhhh...congrats to Mr. M. Mom & dad ~ you did good! For my graduation, way back in the 70's, my dad worked, mom was angry because of it, so my older sister & her husband came to cheer me on. Not good memories.....oh well. XXOO you....Stitch
ReplyDeleteI was the only one not to stand after the teacher's commencement address. I thought she was a doof and I didn't want to support her. I think I was probably the doof, but whatever... in the past. I have no good graduation stories. :o) Just enter me and congrats to your baby- all grown up! :o)
ReplyDeleteMy high school graduation was wonderful, LOL, no really it was the first time I found out I had allergies and it look liked I cried the whole time, not, they were red from rubbing them!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you and your fanily!
Congratulations! My son's graduation last year was the funnest of my three older kids. Beach balls everywhere and the principal sang and played the guitar...and he was good! And my son in did a leprachaun leap and click of the heels after receiving his diploma.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the end of an era it's the beginning of a new phase in his life and yours. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteOH my gosh I almost forgot it is giveaway thursday! anyway congrats to your son! My grad. pictures I will never show to anyone because my Mouth is so BIG with a big open smile. embarrising; but I was very happy! I really don't have a color prefrence just send the cutest print!(please!)
ReplyDeleteDes, Be Happy, this means you have succeeded in his life. These days, getting a youngster through HS is a big feat.
ReplyDeleteI guess the funniest thing at my graduation was I was the only somewhat senior! All these youngins in their spaghetti strap dresses and me in my Native American attire! I guess I looked pretty dumb to them, but I was Proud. Rae Ann
We have had kindergarten graduations, jr high, high school, college and law school...and then the Masters and soon the PHD. Each one has brought me much joy and reflection too of how those sweet faces and happy girls and boys have grown to be wonderful, caring adults. Mom and dad, the celebration is yours too...go for it!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to your son, first of all. It is tough my daughter graduated 2 years ago. While you want to be so proud of them it is tough knowing that they will be off to college and out into the real world. I had one starting college last year and one starting kindergarten!!
ReplyDeleteAnd oh yeah, I graduated from high school 28 years ago today!!
Oh what an exciting time ahead for the both of you. I missed my graduation because I was away at Basic and AIT. Tell your son congratulations!!
ReplyDelete~Tootles for now!