Commencing to Commence Commencement.

I was only joking when I suggested to the Hrubey brothers in a mock jog that we should run off the dinner we'd just completed. But then off darts Zane. Hunter and I followed suit, trotting the length of the dark, wet parking lot outside Max and Erma's before returning, winded and giggling to our cars. I (jokingly) warned the boys not to have asthma attacks, got my hugs and drove off (without stalling) in Martin the Manual Transmission. Got my soggy self home late.

We had gone to dinner after the old high school commencement. Academy Plus Class of 2006. This was the fifth time I'd attended, but somehow the night wasn't nearly so powerful for me as it had been in years past. I only knew 3 of the 9 grads this time. That may have had something to do with why I didn't bawl this year. I also found the speeches from Authority figures absolutely positively repugnant. Half seemed to be an advertisement for the school while the other half just came off as condescending. There was a five minute address on the relationship between children and parents, which was founded on a really nasty discourse on the irrationality of youth. I wish I had quotes. Hard to explain. It just bothered me.

And apparently it showed. My school admin, and MC for the night, asked me three times in quick succession if I had enjoyed the ceremony. As if to suggest she knew I didn't. To add insult to injury, the company that usually films the event didn't make it. The administration likes to keep a tape of each year's commencement, and the only person who managed to capture whole thing was seated behind my right ear, in complete view of my disapproving fidgets, murmurings, and head shakes.

Can you say Rut Ro? I thought ya could.

Anyway, ran into about 5 alumni, which was very nice. Much squawking about how short my hair is. Most were used to seeing it about half way down my back, so their shock was understandable. It now barely passes my ears, and that's because it's been almost 8 weeks since my last hair cut. The teachers seemed well, if a little busy and uncertain what to make of me. It was nice to catch up, even in small ways.

Strange to see how much I've separated myself from my high school life. It's all too easy for me to forget those years even happened, and in some ways, it's centering to revisit them.