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| 1993 John at Grad dinner/dance ...2018 Jack heading to his Grad dinner/dance |
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| 1993...VC Graduation |
In 1993 John graduated from high school. I was definitely not his girlfriend or even his grad date at the time, however, I was there. John and I knew one another in high school because of basketball and mutual friends, but that was about it. We saw one another at "parties" or basketball games, perhaps even at some of the infamous VC dances, but really it was Gerald who I knew much better and why I agreed to go as his date to graduation that year. Being one year older is a big deal as a teenager so the fact that I was already in college made me a little apprehensive to go to a high school graduation. Luckily for me, John's girlfriend at the time was also my age so I did not have to feel like the lone wolf amongst the high school pack. It is funny to look back 25 years later and see the photos from that night. They are nostalgic... where did that time go from that day to where I am now...it doesn't seem possible that 25 years have passed since that moment. The events of that evening are in pieces, but nonetheless, they are still embedded in the bank of memories I have of him. John once told me his version of something he believes took place that night between the two of us; how we apparently had a "moment". Here is how it goes...
After the graduation dinner and the festivities of the evening had died down, I was ready to head home. Gerald and a few of his friends wanted to continue celebrating so I took a taxi back to John's parent's house to collect my car keys. We had all met there prior to dinner. John and his girlfriend left the party early as well, so he was already home when I knocked at the door. I still laugh just thinking about this story because for me this simply did not happen...he claims that when he handed me the keys there was a split second where our eyes met, we looked at one another and he thought that we might kiss...keep in mind John's girlfriend was in the house at the time and he and I were nowhere near that "friendly"...his made for tv movie of the week recollection was both funny and cheesy beyond belief...even years later when I pressed him to knock off the made-up story he had created in his head, he never would concede. John said it was his memory and his truth and I couldn't convince him otherwise...It's a laughable memory of his for sure...but one I am happy to know and share.
There will always be moments, how can there not be... big ones happen... like your oldest son finally graduating from high school and small ones... like the quiet of the house when the boys have all gone to sleep...everyday pieces of John are disguised in these teenagers who are just like him in so many ways...I know John would be very happy right now...he wanted nothing more than to watch his sons become young men. When Jack graduated from high school last week...well... that was a moment! Happy and sad, proud and grateful, John was surely there beaming! You never know where life will take you...the possibilities are endless for a graduating teenager...but, of course, experience lets you know that sometimes that too can be cut short. I think this is why in many ways the boys are lucky... they know you cannot take life for granted and that they should make the most of each day, each new experience, each milestone they reach, every moment...all of them...big and small...there are certainly days that we can all be reminded just how lucky we truly are and to never take for granted the moments that make life worth while.
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| 2018... VC Graduation |
