;)
;)
;)
;)
The Graduate
With Lizzie
With her aunt Nancy
With her Bentley grandparents (so great to have my parents there!)
Laughing with one of her Latin teachers, Ms. Bjorkman, one of her favorites
With Lucy
With Josh (and Grandpa Bentley laughing in the background)
. . .
Notes from graduation:
~ It rained, which meant it wasn't outside in the glorious green spring but inside in the musty old gym with limited seating and difficult photo challenges. Oh, well.
~ I love that all the girls wear white dresses under their robes.
~ Is there a song that triggers more tears than Pomp and Circumstance? It's poignant seeing all those young adults march in with their caps and gowns and smiles, those kids we saw in corduroys at preschool, who were sounding out their words a mere 12 years ago and who bounced in their bus seats with excitement en route to field trips. They're suddenly tall, smart, and eager to make a go of it. Sniff.
~ One of the high school social studies teachers, Mike Goodwin, was chosen by the students to give the graduation speech. Amazing. I think it was the best grad speech I've ever heard or read. Just funny and wise and true. He was himself a student at the high school, graduating in the mid-90s, and is (by the way) the son of Doris Kearns Goodwin and Richard Goodwin). He rocked it. I kind of really want to be a high school teacher now, that's how inspiring he was and how much the kids obviously love him.
~ So concludes the grad/prom season o' Lauren (although I'm still insisting on writing those Liner Notes). If you think you've had your fill of hearing all about her, just think how her siblings feel! I keep telling them that their day will come...and it will. All too soon.
Anne
[Edited to add the link to Michael Goodwin's speech.]
Reader Comments (5)
How nice that they wear white dresses. I like that. And I like your writing. I hope it's a fun summer making lots of memories before Lauren starts the next chapter.
She is gorgeous. And that speech was amazing. I read and re-read it. Awesome advice for any stage. :-)
Hug your big girl for us. Remind her how far she's come from the days of playing "mother's helper" to the rambunctious Halverson kids. :-)
oh, congratulations!
where's the pic of the graduate and the proud mama?! ;)
what a great day.
ps-i'm loving your liner notes, by the way. great idea, and great reading.
cheers!
Annie, thanks so much for the Goodwin talk. It was truly the best and had humor and wisdom and silliness in it - in the right proportions. I so loved being there to hear it. The graduation photos are wonderful, too. As are the "liner notes" and all your other witty observations. It was such a great time to be there with you. Loved the Tony awards with you as well. Loved all of it, from the great food and conversation to the expeditions and movies. Thanks ever so much.
Your Lauren is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing the day.
p.s. I'm a huge fan of the Goodwins.