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Thursday, May 21, 2015

Excellence in human living...

Last night was Annie's graduation from high school. (PAUSE). That short sentence holds inside of it 18 years of WOW.

I sat in the Hilbert Circle Theatre waiting for her to appear at the top of the stairs, ready to make her entrance as "Pomp & Circumstance" trailed from the quartet on stage. Why didn't I think to ask her what side she was walking in on?

And then, there she was. It was the first glimpse I'd had of her in cap and gown. She had a rose in her hand and smile on her face. Time stood still.

As tears streamed down my face, I captured her frozen in my gaze. A sudden panic rose up inside of me. How did we get here already? Have I taught her everything she needs to know for life? I think I need more time...

I watched her move down the stairs toward her seat with the rest of the Class of 2015. She was confident and happy.

When her name was called...Anna Michelle Magan (prounounced correctly, thank you very much)...she glided triumphantly across the stage. She graduated with honors, but even better, I think she graduated with Excellence in Human Living. She is both passionate and compassionate. She seeks to be a righter of wrongs, still unjaded by life. She is stubborn and sometimes maddeningly insistent. She is creative and inquisitive and determined.

As she crossed the stage, there was no hesitation, no panic on my part. Oh, there were a few tears. It was as if I could physically feel the separation happening as my firstborn child, my only daughter, stepped into her own life. It's a life where she will need me still. Heck, I'm almost 45 and I still need my mom.

But it is her own life and as she came down the stairs, diploma in hand and something bigger than a simple smile on her face, I thought to myself, "She's got this."

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5 comments:

Michelle said...

WOW!! It seems like only yesterday I was reading about the uniform skirt that you tracked down for her!! This is an exciting time for her and for you. Good job, Mama!

Eternal Lizdom said...

So many of us have kind of been mothering in your shadow as she grows up... She was maybe my daughter's age when I first "met" you? This post made me cry - love tears, of course.

FairytaleMom said...

Whomever said "The days are long, but the years are short" could not have been more insightful. I hope that I get this mothering thing figured as well as you have before mine graduates.

Momza said...

Ahh yes! Let the Wild Rumpus begin! This is when LIFE gets going in full-speed! Enjoy the ride!! Congrats!

Kelly said...

Oh yes, I'm now crying too. Congrats to Annie and the whole Magan family ... and especially you, Amy, for raising such an amazing young woman. We've been lucky to watch her grow up through this blog. I have two more years before my only daughter makes that walk across the stage. I love how you described looking at her and knowing that "she's got this." I hope I feel the same when I'm in your position. :) Happy weekend!