And then we were at the end. The end of our senior year. The end of high school. The end of childhood. And the beginning of so much more. It was truly a bittersweet moment.
The graduation weekend events began on Thursday, May 14, 1992 with the year-end class party at Chandra Maloney's lakeside home. I wrote:
"Fairly good day. Tonight was the senior class party at Chandra's house. It wasn't all that exciting but I had fun. . .Didn't do much else other than a War Pig strike with Joey [Gravell]. We snuck out in the middle of the party and 'shoe-shined' a bunch of people's cars. I had to do mine to avoid suspicion. It was so hilarious. Everyone was talking about it. . ."
Later that night the War Pig had other plans for mischief--which did not pan out:
"12:38 AM. Actually Friday morning waiting to do a War Pig strike. I'm getting really tired, but I'll survive. Mark Reams was supposed to spend the night but as yet, he hasn't shown up and I doubt he will. We kind of missed connections. Too bad, he really wanted this one."
Ah what a difference cell phones would have made. Or maybe not. Perhaps Mark realized it was time to put away childish pranks. Or more likely he was still working on that epic speech for Saturday night.
Friday, May 15 was the first event of graduation weekend, the consecration service. I reflected on the evening in my journal:
"It's finally beginning to sink in. It didn't' really begin to hit home until J and I were strolling down that runway tonight in our black robes and hats, and our yellow honor cords. Only then did I realize that my high school years are really just about over. It's kind of weird and I still haven't fully accepted that it's me that's graduating. Tonight was the first program of graduation weekend, the Friday night vespers. It went well, and we got out amazingly early. We were done by about 9. I walked down with J and tomorrow I will be walking down with Chandra."
The walking down thing was a big deal. At least for me. I put a lot of thought into who I wanted to walk with for the Friday and Sabbath morning ceremonies. I wanted to walk with people who meant something to me. Of course, there were more than two people that meant something to me, but in the end I chose to walk with two people who I first befriended when we were all freshmen, who became my best friends then--and continue to be to this day.
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| J and me, Friday night, May 15, 1992 |
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| Chandra and me, Sabbath morning, May 16, 1992 |
Saturday, May 16, 1992 was The Big Day. I took some time a little less than an hour before we headed over to the gym for the commencement to try to reflect on the momentous occasion:
"6:18 PM Well, its finally here and I feel like I should have something profound to say and I don't. In leas than two hours I will be marching down that aisle for the last time. In less than five hours I will be a graduate of Forest Lake Academy. My high school days will be over, a significant milestone will have been passed and a phase of my life will be ended. It seems like I should be reflecting on these past four years but I can't seem to find any words. I, maybe, should be looking to the future, but for me the future is dark and uncertain; I hate to think about it. And yet it seems so close, I can hardly help it. . ."
Several hours later I picked up again, finding ample time to write amidst the "excitement" of Project Graduation.
"Well, it's over. I am now officially alumni of Forest Lake Academy, a graduate and once again a freshman. It was an awesome ceremony from start to finish. Admittedly, I am biased but to me it was the most awesome graduation I'd ever been to. It's really weird and kind of sad to think that there is no next year, no next semester, no Monday for academy. It's all over now, a piece of history now. It was such a high though being on that stage, it was a high that lasted until first dull hours of project grad.
I got to the school around 7:15 or so and spend most of the time talking to my friends and glorying in the approaching moment. Numerous pictures were taken etc. . .Finally a little after eight, we marched down the aisle.
The ceremony was so awesome. Chandra played that piece that inspired me so much and she was sooo good. Rey gave a really awesome speech. Linda played and was also quite impressive. Then they had the officers speeches, which were all very moving. Ly, Chris , Jennifer [Everett], and Susan all broke down in the middle of theirs. For once, I felt satisfied with a speech I made and I think my friends were quite surprised to find themselves tributed in my speech.
To see Sabbath morning baccalaureate marches (in and out) as well as the early parts of the commencement program including Rey's speech, parts of Chandra and Linda's performances, and snippets of the officers speeches click on the link below (or copy and paste it into your browser):
http://share.imemories.com/pubshare/75da9543-e4f5-431a-ac6a-76dbbeaa5ae6
Mark was the last one and it was incredible, it was one of the best speeches I've ever heard. I say this especially because I know how hard it was for Mark to write that speech, he was so worried about it, he said it'd only be five minutes long but he worked hard and it paid off. It was the perfect length and had the perfect balance of humor and seriousness. It was so funny, he started out by taking pictures of the audience, the class, and himself. It was a great speech. After that we presented the class gift and then they had the principal's and college awards etc. Chris was valedictorian, Jenny B [Burrill] was salutatorian, Matthew was Student of the Year, and Rey got the principal's award. I collected two more scholarships, one from Oakwood and from Southern. Finally we got our diplomas. Then the class song and it was all over. . .I went home and changed, went to Chris C's house, and then to project grad which up to this point proved very, very dull."
To hear Mark's speech and segments of the later part of graduation, click on the link below (or copy and paste it into your browser).
http://share.imemories.com/pubshare/dafd4822-a13b-4628-979f-4102b317fbe2
Looking back at the video I don't think it's accurate to describe Chris Cotta's momentary "huskiness" of voice as "breaking down" in the middle of his speech. Not that there would be any shame in it, if he had.
Mark seemed to have a prescient understanding of the importance of documenting the moment. In those pre-social media times, his selfie and audience pics seemed so creative and original. Little did we know that in 30 years this would be standard.
I do not remember the class song. Did we actually sing it?
My criticism of Project Graduation was a bit harsh. I know the sponsors worked hard to provide a fun celebration for the graduates. I don't think there's much more they could have done that didn't involve loud music and grown-up drinks. As it was, we did have about a minute of loud rock n' roll before they shut us down. I recapped the night on Monday, May 18, beginning with my assessment that Chris and Carissa had the right idea:
"My first days out of academy have been rather dull. Project grad was kind of precursor to that. Chris and Carissa had the right idea when they left at 2:00 AM, an hour after it started. It was so damn boring, the most boring five hours of my life. I did win two tickets to Sea World and so did Chandra and J. We're gonna get a group together and go. . .
The only interesting thing to happen was when they had "Funky Boy" Rey's band play. It consisted of Rey, Jason Lassell, Matt Crofton, Dale [Robertson], and Nathan Jones. That was cool, but they were asked to cut it short because they were 'playing too loud', so they did one mellow song, then Eric Mullins took over drums from Dale and they went out guns blazing. They kicked into a full volume, kick-ass, and damn good rendition of Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' and it was awesome. It was the best thing they played all night. It actually sounded like the real thing. And Colin [Astwood], Mark Reams, Shane [Hamilton], Steward Eden, Tom McDonald, and a bunch of other guys started moshing. Needless to say, this did NOT last very long. The sponsors quickly made them stop, much to everyone's disappointment and they played only a minute, maybe less. After that it was back to 'pool games starting downstairs everyone. . .' As Jason [Lassell] said, 'Rock n' Roll is better than drinking & driving.' Particularly on grad night.
At the end of the project grad they had this great cry-fest manufactured by PT. I thought thing was really stupid and contrived, but everyone cried anyway. I think it was because we were all so tired. I cried but for different reasons. . .
Yeah, sure. For different reasons. Whatever. I've been on the other side of that event for 24 years, trying to plan fun and meaningful events for cynical, too-cool-for-school teens who don't see how these old boomers can possibly "get it." I may have felt our sponsors were "manipulating" us into an emotional moment. But the fact was, the emotions were real. And looking back, if I could have truly understood what I had been trying to articulate earlier in my journal--and if I could have known what the years ahead would bring--the passage of time and the distant miles, the growing apart and growing close again, the heartache and celebrations. If I could have known that for one of my best friends, the clock was ticking with 28 years left. I think I would have appreciated those five hours so much more. I'd gladly take those five hours back thirty years later from 2 AM to 7 AM tonight and happily spend them with the people who were in that rec center that night. One thing I'd change though. I'd let Rey and Co finish "Enter Sandman." I'm really curious to see who would have taken on James Hetfield's roaring vocals.
So it ended.
And so it began.
"And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to the love you make"
--The Beatles, "The End"
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