I had gifts for Johnny that I meant to give him in the restaurant, but forgot. So I gave them to him in the parking lot :) He got a card with a smiley face pin attached to it, a black tie (which he wore for the ceremony) and the X-Men trilogy on DVD (cheap from Walmart). Maybe next graduation we'll be able to afford better gifts ;)
He had on a tie that up close, looked dark green. When you compare the two side-by-side, you notice the difference. Plus the black tie was clearance! We love Clarence, he's our best friend!!
How would you like to have been a fly on his nose that night? lol That fly was buzzing around and landed just before Katherine snapped the picture! Johnny even said, "This fly's gonna land on my nose!" Since it was a digital camera, we were able to look and see that it was noticeable.
So we decided to go for Take 2. Kind of a weird view from so low. Katherine was a great photographer though! This was just before the ceremony.
Johnny had to be there 45 minutes early, so we got great seats on the front row of the gymnasium. Charlie and Brenda (Johnny's parents) and our great friends from our church, Ronnie and Gloria Watts joined me and the kids for the ceremony. Slowly it became a standing room only! Apparently the whole community gets excited for these graduations. I had to laugh at some of the choices of attire that people chose. There were polar extremes- from women of course. Some looked like they just cleaned house, in stained-ish old T-shirts and cut-off shorts; some looked like they came from or were headed to Walmart in matching capri sets; and some looked like they were going to prom or on a cruise in sequin-accented gowns. Sorry there aren't pictures- would've looked a little rude to snap a pic as they walked past me- lol.
The proud parents and our proud kids. Look at Bryn's lips- the Red Eye Flash was on and it turned her lips purple!
Ronnie and Gloria Watts- two of the nicest people ever! Olivia likes to sit with them at Church, and sometimes Ella, so naturally they wanted to sit with her that night too! We love them!
Anyway, back to the ceremony. As the graduates filed in, we looked for Johnny with his freshly shorn head under his graduation cap;) and we felt so proud of him! He was having a ball! The guest speaker was a judge named Ben Z. Grant. His daughter is an actress on the NBC show Heroes. When I read that, before the actual event, I was interested, and I don't even watch that show, haha. While I can appreciate the man for his service to society in the judicial system and elsewhere, I have to admit that his speech was, or should be, embarrassing to Panola College. He was very difficult to follow and at one point, in what was supposed to be considered a motivating speech, he told a story about two groups of Greeks I think that met on top of a mountain in a land skirmish. After the leaders discussed the agreements, they "beat the children mercilessly". I think everyone's mouth dropped open and we all looked at each other like, "what did he just say?" Then, just as I was sure I'd misunderstood, he repeated it. "Did he just say that?!" Johnny and I looked at each other from across the gym like, "WHAT?! Who is this guy?!" The man made a comment somewhere during his lengthy speech that indicated that he knew he was boring us, and everyone laughed and cheered! I felt bad for him then. When he finally did sit down, everyone cheered really loudly and for a long time. By then I was afraid the evening was going to last forever! lol Oh, another thing, one of Johnny's classmates in nursing wrote a song and sang it for the ceremony. Her name is Nikki and she's got an incredible voice! She tried out for American Idol and didn't even make it to see Simon, Paula, Randy or Kara. Hopefully she'll try out again. I'd love to see her on the show!Okay, so the night didn't last forever... it was actually over very quickly. Johnny received his diploma and we couldn't be happier! It was well worth the walk, I mean work! haha
Yeah for Johnny! I heard that restaurant is yummy. There is one in Marshall that we pass every time I go back home. Maybe one day we will stop and eat.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for y'all! and love the family's coordinating outfits!
ReplyDeleteHooray for Johnny! I know he's worked long and hard to be able to do that. It gives me hope that... someday... Kyle will graduate, too. :)
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