Graduating!

Since it's graduation season, I decided this would be the perfect Throwback Thursday Stories picture!

I was so excited when I finally graduated!  The thought of no more school, and getting ready for college was thrilling!  My graduation was extra special for me- and for my family.  My grandma had arranged for my Uncle Sherel, an alumnus from my high school to give the commencement speech.  I thought that was pretty cool!  Before the ceremony, he told me to give him a signal if he'd been talking too long (he did, but I didn't do anything).  When it was time to go onstage and receive our diplomas, my uncle took mine from the principal and presented it to me himself.  Such an honor!

The next day, we had a blowout of a graduation party at my grandparent's house.  I had family from all over the country there.  Not completely sure if they were there just for me, or because my uncle had given the commencement, but it was amazing!  You can see I got luggage, which I still have- although one piece has gone missing.  Behind me is my dad, holding my baby sister, Ashely.  Yes, that's a 17 year age difference, and next year, SHE will be graduating high school!  I look like such a baby in that picture, but I look exactly like my dad.  We even have the same smile!

A flashback of a flashback!

 Here I am again, linking up with The Mom Creative for her Throwback Thursday Stories!

Today is a flashback of a flashback!

Every year during homecoming week, each day was a special day where we got to do different things to raise spirit.  We had pajama day, camo day etc.  This day was 70's day and I had the advantage of my mom saving some of her clothes from when she was in school and they actually fit me!  My friend, Cindy and I decided we'd wear them- and I think we were the only ones with authentic clothes! 

It was a lot of fun, but my plaid dress was a little short.  It was quite difficult going up the stairs, and when I dropped my pencil in typing class, I had to have someone else pick it up for me.  This was during our sophomore year, 20 years ago.  Geez, that makes me feel old!  I tried to get Kate to wear that plaid dress this year for homecoming when they had hippie day, but she wouldn't wear it.  There's always next year!

Florida- a TBT treat

 Once again, I'm linking up with Jessica's Throwback Thursday Stories!  I had good intentions to do this again last week, even had my picture and story all ready in my head, but by the time I got out of the shower, I got distracted and completely forgot.  I'm good at that!

When we were kids, Christmas meant more than Christmas Eve service and a visit from Santa.  It meant that after we went to our Me-maw and Pa-pa's house Christmas morning, we'd head to our Granny and Pa's, load into their car and make the 17 hour trip to their vacation house in Boynton Beach, FL.  This was exciting for us- we got several weeks off of school, away from our parents, enjoying time with our grandparents (and getting away with way more than we would at home)!

Those trips meant daily trips to the beach (even when it was too cold to swim) and stopping at the 7-11 beforehand to get an ice cream sandwich.  It meant walking along the jetty and seeing the manatees, Pa building us ocean liners (because any grandpa can build a castle, who else builds ocean liners?), and our very own tide pool.  It meant picking oranges and grapefruits in the backyard and Granny juicing them.  It meant seeing all of Pa's family.

Near the end of our trip, our parents would drive down, spend a few days and then take us home while Granny and Pa stayed behind until March when Illinois winters weren't too unbearable.  We did this every year until I was in 5th grade and my mom decided that I would have too much work to catch up on (she always arranged with our teachers to send our homework along on our trip so we wouldn't be behind).  I can tell you that those trips hold some of my most precious memories.  Granny and Pa no longer have that house, but still go down every year after Christmas and stay with my uncle.  I know Florida holds a special place in all of our hearts!