tavie.com

There is never much time for blogging and other internet activities when there are goils about, but there are certain occasions that require documentation, and today was one of them: my babies, my idols, my heroes, my pals Goose and Matt graduated high school. I cried like the crybaby that I am. I welled up at the following:

My first glimpse of Goose in her gown, looking so grown-up and so gorgeous.

Daoud's speech. I'm embarrassed about this-- I mean, I was openly weeping at his speech. But only slightly. (The much-celebrated Single Tear actually trickled in for a brief but sticky cameo. Yeah, well, glow-in-the-dark stars, man. They just rule, okay?)

Matt's entrance.

Matt's mother's incomprehensible but obviously impassioned speech.

Joanna's speech. Yeah, I know. And I don't even know that guy from Adam.

The chorus singing together for the last time.

The speech about "lifers", kids who had been going to the school for 13 years or more.

The kids exiting the meetinghouse; Matt and Daoud linking elbows as they marched out together.

So my vicarious living through them has been successful, because I found myself completely caught up in the coopted emotion of the day.

Gina wrote a nice description of it:

One part of [the commencement speaker/principal's] story stuck in my mind though, he was talking about a bridge collapse that happened back in the eighties. As the bridge went down and cars went with it, one man was able to stop at the very edge and get out of his car to warn the others approaching. He tried to stop the next on coming car, but the man in the passenger seat flipped him off and then the car drove on, right over the edge and into the river. In that last moment of his life he will be remembered for the hateful message that he sent.

He advised the students to live their lives as if any gesture, action or word could be their last, and what they'll remembered for. After Matt completed his gorgeous, perfect reading, he winked (at someone in the audience or at the audience in general, it wasn't clear). It was subtle and unexpected and perfectly Matt. It was so very much his Summing Gesture.

I would remiss if I didn't add that Goose's speech was not only the best speech I've ever heard at a graduation (and perhaps at any occasion, formal or not), but it was the best-received speech to boot. Yes, I brought the applause-o-metre, and she clearly won, and got the most genuine laughs. (And not only from the fan club.) Only Matt rivaled her in the excellence of delivery, which leads me to wonder exactly why she is not somehow touring the continent for enormous wads of cash, imparting her deep-voiced wit to paying audiences. It was a serious surprise, as Goose prides herself on her awkwardness and tendency to mumble. She'd be good on the radio.

Yeah, so. Sure, graduations make me wistful and poke at self-inflicted wounds that will never have a chance to properly close, but the overwhelming feelings were maternal/sororital/fan-girly pride. Oh, and sweat. Fucking hot up there in the rafters.

Why are you in Tavie's head? 1:29 AM | shower me with attention