Wow. What a night. We just got back about half an hour ago from graduation. It was so amazing. My grandfather and boyfriend came over for dinner, April, Beth, and I played dress up(eww), and Nick(my boyfriend) got along extremely well with my grandfather. Almost to well...they were talking almost the entire graduation. One bump in the road was my uninvited mother decided to show up. I was glad though to see my other little sister Julia, who met Nick for the first time. She(my mother) cried and tried to get me to bend but with Nick at my side I was thankfully like steel and didn't bend. Things went well other than that. I made Daddy cry(the girls told me so ) and I shed a good many of my own tears. I made my best friend Barbie, who's tough as nails when it comes to this stuff, loose it too. Even Nick started to waiver a little bit and he's the "tough guy" type(pffft!). It's finally starting to just sink in though I think. I still don't feel like I'm any different. But I am. And so much so in a way I can't even begin to understand. I wish Mom(Becky) and my grandma could have been there. I'm not sure how I'm going to manage getting pics for you though because we just used a disposable camera. I'll try to figure something out. Anyways, over all it was a very happy night. I keep looking at my diploma waiting for it to be real. So many friends cried and I don't think I could stand to hug another person. So I guess I'm going to close these thoughts with this:

No longer,
Broken

I wish I could have been there with you
lots of love
Helen xxxx

While pics would be most appreciated, your description of the emotions of the day painted a vivid picture in my head. 

Well done Felicia!!!

-Dennis-

Congrats!!!

so what next?


and please give my best to your pops

E

I will be starting community college in the fall to get my basics out of the way before moving on to an undecided four year college. Staying at home for now and going crazy looking for a job because next to no one will hire at 17. Grr. Until then I'm enjoying the summer (even though it is a little cold) and writing like always. Lots of stories in the works and poems keep finding their way on to the laptop's files. Thanks to every one who helped me make it through this crazy and difficult year.

Felicia

Edit to add: In the picture of us on our way out, the boy in front of me in the wheelchair is Mike Francis. He has 4th stage cancer and they weren't sure he was going to make it to graduation. It was his one final goal. The next day Hospice was called in and Mike doesn't have much longer. He's fighting a battle he knows he can't win. We were all so happy he could be there. I don't know him really well but he wrote a very moving speech, which was given by a friend, and made graduation unforgettable.

Mike Francis died some time between 11 and 11:30 last night. He was 18 and a friend to every person he met. He fought the cancer for the better part of his highschool life and still made classes next to every day. He was on national honor society, student council, future business leaders of america, atheltic club, and in chorus. He drove way to fast and broke every rule but that's just because he was Mike. We will all miss him. Even those of us, like myself, who never got the chance to really know him. Rest in peace Mikey. You're finally home.

Felicia