I don’t even have to say how things have changed since high school. My blog has some testimony of the struggles I’ve dealt with in the last year as I’ve tried to create a future for myself after the flop that was my undergraduate studies. Today my mind is full of trying to figure out the interior design aspects of my future bedroom, looking for furniture, wanting to get out of the house, etc.
What do I remember about five years ago? Thursday, the day before, we had rehearsal at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. There was some confusion over who was taking me. Crystal maybe? She got lost the next day and was almost late to graduation. I offered Shiver to come with me but she went with another friend. He was involved in a minor car wreck on the way there. I was standing third in line when another friend rushed up to tell me about the wreck. I began to freak out but the people around me reminded me there was nothing I could do about it. This was before everyone had cellphones. I was a mess during that rehearsal. I was on stage because I was to give a graduation speech.
Anyways, near the end Shiver walked in. I had to suffer through the mic testing before it was over. Shiver walked towards the stage and I hopped down the stage and threw my arms around her. You can’t even imagine all the horrible things I had been imagining. I nearly blew up on Nick. I think there was some strong words directed at him for his carelessness. He went on to total three cars including his brother’s.
Then on June 4th I went to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (I think?) with the guy who told me about the car wreck. Afterwards we went back to his house where I put my make-up on. There was a lot of hustle and bustle before graduation as I tried to find all my friends to get our squee on. Then we marched into the auditorium.
I was ready for high school to be over. Then Ollie Elinger thanked me for my speech again (his being after mine) and I suddenly got teary eyed. I realized that I’d never sit next to Ollie again. I still haven’t heard word of how he’s been since then. He was class president a few times over the years. He hijacked his speech to give a long shout out to his little sister on how much he loved her and how he knew she’d be just fine in high school. He then admonished us to have our “Summer of George” (a la Seinfeld).
Afterwards I was congratulated on my speech by various people. It was probably the best part of the day. My high school diploma (and my college one) are in my closet. I prefer artwork on my walls to diplomas. Shiver’s mom handed her and I half-melted ice creams to enjoy. Her family stopped by my house so I could drop off my graduation regelia and pick up my suitcase. In the morning we would head to the beach for a week. But tonight we ate in a house full of people, a huge house party next door where other schoolmates partied. Then we were late heading to the Outer Banks in the morning.
That summer was the beginning of everything changing for the worse. I did not know it then, standing on that stage with my long wavy hair. I did not feel it when my Dad had left after I walked so he could go to work. I slept on Shiver’s bed next to her, not knowing. Ignorance is bliss.
