Can this be right?

On Sunday afternoon, under a blue sky on the shores of Lake Eternal, we watched our son graduate from high school.

That is him as he walked into the arena. He and his ladyfriend, with whom he recently celebrated a 1-year-of-dating anniversary, walked together.

Have I mentioned it was a beautiful day?

When he got his diploma, he leaned in for a kiss with the superintendent of schools.

Here he is with my brother Thor and his beautiful/talented/envy-inspiring wife Lila.

This one actualy was taken at the baccalaureate, but I love it, so I'm including it under the general banner of "graduation activities."

All of the cliches hold true about watching your child graduate. I can't believe the time has gone so fast. And while I would never, ever want to delay his entry into the big, wide world of adulthood, it seems downright flipping impossible that the kid who used to sit by my desk at work every day after school is grown up.

At the same time, I know how lucky I am. The photo on my son's t-shirt is of a classmate who died in a car accident four days before Easter. We sat behind the young man's mother during the graduation ceremony. She has created a memorial scholarship for her son, and she was there to receive his diploma.

After all the awards had been announced, and all the students received their diplomas, after the speeches and photos, the class president stood at the podium and spoke about losing a friend that this class of 90 had known since they were in elementary school. He was not saccharine. He was not sentimental. He was composed and funny and inspirational. He managed to carry off something that most adults wouldn't have even attempted.

And then he signalled for the class to open their graduation robes, revealing that nearly all of them were wearing t-shirts with their classmate's photo.

Comments

[ppb]

Ah, congrats! What are his plans for the next chapter?

[Debberoo]

Congrats and what a handsome young man your son is.

I'm so sorry about his classmate and though I will never know them I am wishing for peace and comfort for his family. Their loss certainly puts my little woes in perspective.

[An' Beppe]

I can't believe that strapping young man used to be the little mop-topped boy who would try to sell me Mardi Gras bead dogs (and back rubs) for $1. That sounds totally skeevy, but that's what Southern aunties are for, right? Congrats, Curly!

[Norah]

What a handsome young man! I wish him a wonderful wild ride into the future!

[ppb]

How did the superintendent take to the kiss?

[revdrmom]

Tears in my eyes at the end of your post....and congratulations to the new grad and his proud family!

[Debbie in the UK]

God, your boy is so handsome, what a credit to you!

Debbie x