Graduation

I have been wanting to document the experience of Molly's high school graduation, but knew it would be an undertaking because a)  I couldn't quite capture in all its moving loveliness b) it would take a lot out of me - both in terms of emotion and time.

There are a few overall impressions that will stay with me. The first is that 17 and a half years ago, I would have paid good money and chopped off an arm to have been able to glimpse this  - to know that Molly would be graduating high school. With honors, surrounded by friends who adore her, celebrating a rich high school career filled with running and singing and violin playing and serving and socializing. Jeff and I could have spent the last 17 years in and out of hospitals, bankrupt, divorced, and heartbroken. Instead, we held hands in pride watching our daughter walk across the stage, our minds filled with happy memories.

We live in a physically idyllic historic town. It is the town where Jeff works, the schools have a fabulous reputation, the houses are charming and overpriced, and there is a lot of wealth and all that comes with that. Often times, I wonder what the heck we've done, surrounding our children and selves with people who have a LOT more than we do and worry that it has re-set our expectations of what "normal" looks like. In other words, I tend to focus on what I don't love about the community we live in. This week, though, I have been touched by how this community supports its students, namely the Moorestown graduates.

Graduation in our area is outside, and number of guests is limited. So that posed some challenges. Rain - nuff said. Also, the number of guests we had wanting to come outnumbered the tickets we were allotted. Molly's best friends' mom came to the rescue with 3 more tickets, and the weather cooperated beautifully. The whole affair was bathed in the glow of sunset. The field was lovely, the ceremony was succinct and well done. Molly's a capella choir sang the Irish blessing. I've never been to a classier, more meaningful graduation ceremony. It could have been in a movie. After everyone flooded the field to take  a million pictures, the kids loaded up onto buses and were taken to a huge all night affair the town provides for called "Project Graduation." The town lined up on Main street, and a police escort announced the arrival of the buses. ("Moorestown, here are your 2016 graduates!!!") And the town cheered as the buses paraded down the street, all the kids hanging out the windows waving. They had no idea what's in store - every year is a secret and different. They spend one last night with all of their friends, safely. 308 of the 316 graduates attended, no cost to them.

First stop was the field house, an old sports club in town, and there was an abundance of food and games and bounce houses. Then they were taken on riverboat cruise on the Delaware River. They took a class picture on the Art Museum steps in Philly at 2am, then a nightclub was rented out just for them where they danced and had root beer floats. They were taken back to the school for coffee and donuts and for the raffle prizes to be called (things like Apple watches, bicycles, etc).  Also, for 2 nights the graduates could walk into several Main street businesses and receive free food and drink - free pretzels, coffee, ice cream.

On Thursday, our family had its own little personal celebration of Molly. Thursday afternoon, Molly's violin teacher hosted a private recital for our family. It was Molly's last recital with her studio. Molly and her teacher played a really lovely duet. They surprised me by having Molly play my favorite ever piece for Molly to play, Meditation from Thais. Then Molly's teacher brought out sparkling cider and we had a toast. It was a sweet ending to this era of Molly's musical career.

In the evening we had the party room at Distrito and spent the next 2 hours eating and watching a slideshow of Molly's life, cousins running around, gifts being given, including the memory book several of you contributed to. I think Molly felt honored and loved without being spotlighted on too big a stage, because Molly never wants to be the center of attention.

Right now, she is experiencing the world in a whole new way, I believe at this very moment on a volcano in Nicaragua. We are preparing for her departure to college near the end of summer. Life is changing and we will miss her constant presence in our house and lives. On the other hand, we are so proud of her and know that her going out into the world on her own is what we wanted to know would happen when we watched over her lying in a plastic isolette.