Kara’s Graduation

Kara’s Graduation, originally uploaded by Random and Odd.

This has been the busiest week of the year so far. I haven’t had a second to update HWTE from our hike from two weekends ago.

This week Shea and Dan got their black belts after much testing. Alyx promoted out of middle school and is now a freshman in high school and the time sucker was Kara graduating from high school.
I had intended to write a blog to her about how proud I was of her, but I ended up putting into an email to her for her to read by herself.

Kara’s graduation went off without a hitch. Her uncle and aunt from Oregon came to witness the miracle. My mom and sister joined in. I was very happy to have Lester and his daughter there as well. Kara’s brother, Ryan came from Redding to be there too.
On my way back to my spot in line I ran into DB’s parents. Never in a million years did I think I would ever see them again, but I was surprised when his dad walked up to me and gave me a big hug. I said, “Hi dad. How are you?!” for only him to hear. I have his mom a hug and we talked for a minute or two and as I was saying goodbye, his dad pulled me into a big hug and I said, “I love and miss you so much…” and he said, “me too.” It was already an emotional day for me, but seeing Dad, just melted my heart. I could tell he was genuine and his hugs were big and strong. That man is pretty awesome. It’s a shame his son didn’t turn out anything like him. Heading back over to where Lester was in line waiting and I thought, “nope, glad he turned out the way he did, because look how lucky I am for how things are for me now.” And I was enveloped in a big hug by the man who loves me so very much. No regrets.

We all found our seats to watch Kara and Marina walk across the stage. Tabitha had to take one side because her daughter was walking down one way and I had to take the other because that is where Kara was walking from. It was strange to not be together to share this monumental occasion seeing that we have been there for each other for the last couple of years without fail for the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. Kara was at the very last of the line of people walking down the track and I started to wonder if I was on the wrong side, but she spotted me from forever away and started waving at me. My heart swelled with pride and I took a million pictures as she smiled bigger than I have ever seen her smile in her life. I sat through the speeches and decided to see if I could get closer so I could get a picture of her crossing the stage. The lighting was bad and I had to fiddle with the ISO to be able to get the shot I wanted, but I had no idea where she was sitting in the crowd of people. The back of everyone’s head looked the same with the blue caps covering them. Out of the blue, Kara turned around and spotted me again in a totally new area and waved to me with that big smile on her face still. The tears came again as I tried to get a picture of her before she stood up to get her diploma. I cried when she made her way to the front of the line, I cried when I saw her climbing the stairs and when they called out her name to get her diploma I had thought I had cried all I could, but a sob escaped and the tears really came down. The hats came off and into the air and I tried to get some composure before I had to go find her in the crush of people. It didn’t take long because as soon as I started looking she came running up to me, “MOM!” and I gave her the biggest, tearful hug and I told her, “Be proud of this moment, this day and all that you have done to get here, because I am so proud of you!!” She cried a little too.
After I let her go, her grandma and dad got their hugs in and I had her lead me through the crowd so I could find my other daughter and give her hugs.

I was a mess as I waited and watched everyone take pictures. Lester made his way to the field and without having to ask, he pulled me into another hug, called me a cry baby but said he was proud of me. I soaked up as much love as I could out of that hug before he started to bitch about being hungry. We all were as a matter of fact. The night was over.

The next morning we began preparing for the BBQ Graduation Party. The one where it RAINED ALL DAY LONG…yes, IN JUNE…IN CALIFORNIA.
Now this is where I am going to thank Judy, my wonderful sister in law for all that she did. She decorated, she got all the food ready, she busted her ass making sure that Kara had all that she needed to make this day go off without a hitch. Without her there it would have been just a get together…Judy made it a full blown Party and I can’t thank her enough…over and over and over.
I thank my sister for the awesome cake she got and for all that she did to make sure Kara had a good day.
I thank Lester for standing at the grill for hours and hours and cooking enough food to feed an army…and there was an army!
Thank you Rhonda for bringing the sides. Yummy!
This BBQ started at 1pm and didn’t end until midnight. Kara had left at 9pm because she thought it would be over and had made plans with friends. Marina left earlier in the day, but came back when her friends weren’t as much fun as her family.
I can look back on that day and say it was one of the best times we have all had together in a long time. We sang, we danced, we sang more, we danced more.

Everyone is asking what Kara is going to do. She’s going to work for 6 months and then she is moving with her boyfriend for a short time and HOPEFULLY coming back. I told her I needed 6 months with her before she off and left me.
I would like a year. Just sayin’.
She’s just so much like me, it’s hard to hold on to a bird who has wings and wants to fly.