That’s Her!
It looked more like a college than a high school graduation. The floor of the arena had over 1400 chairs lined up for the graduates who poured in from four different entrances.
From way up there in the nose bleed section, they all looked like marching ants, identically dressed in maroon caps and gowns. There was a Jumbotron showing random angles, but we really didn’t think we’d know which one was Kara until they called her name right before handing her the diploma.
I was determined to know where she was amongst this sea of newborn adults for the entire ceremony, not just at the end. I wanted to hang on to every single moment of her childhood, young adulthood, to her.
I quickly developed a method to find her. First, I placed an imaginary alphabetically ordered grid over the seats and predicted the section she would sit.
Next, I kept an eye on the entrance that fed kids into that area. I ruled out the tall kids, or any of them who didn’t have long, straight blonde hair. That might seem easy enough, but they all looked the same height from my perspective, and almost all the girls have long blonde hair. This is Texas.
I had to yank out the secret weapon.
I ran those kids’ “walk” though my “mamma-knows-her-kid” filter.
Kara has always had this walk like a ballerina. She tip toes with these light, brisk steps while her upper body tilts a little forward. Like she can’t wait to get somewhere (she can’t). Her head glides smoothly with each step. Reminds me also of a hummingbird.
When she’s nervous, throw in a dramatic arm swing.
That swing is what I noticed first.
“That’s her!” I yelped, and finished to myself, That’s my girl.
It was. And she will always be my Sweetpea, my girl.
Yay Kara!!!
Bunk Strutts said,
June 11, 2009 at 11:24 pm
SWING! YAY!
K_pownd said,
June 12, 2009 at 3:52 am
Go Kara!!! I can remember you being small enough to hold. The best years have gone, It’s time for you to make better ones.
voodoo said,
June 12, 2009 at 6:13 am
Congratulations Kara. Kitty you and Blane must be so proud. Your mom has been asking me if you said anything about the graduation.
tysdaddy said,
June 12, 2009 at 7:17 am
For my oldest boy, I imagine I’ll be looking for his long red hair flowing down the back of his gown.
Ain’t it cool, the ways in which we “recognize” our kids?
Great post, and congrats, Kara!
tpgoddess0103 said,
June 12, 2009 at 9:57 am
Oh yeah – I’ve had to learn how to pick out my boy amongst the sea of other baseball or football uniforms. There is always something you can find
Congrats to Kara!
Ginny said,
June 12, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Congrats, Kara!!
Stiletto said,
June 13, 2009 at 8:11 am
Yay! It seems as if all of my blog friends have kids who graduated this year!
Congrats, Kara!
Stiletto said,
June 13, 2009 at 8:12 am
BTW, I am dying to know, how well did the camera work from the nose bleed section? Cuz that’s where I sat too last weekend at a special person’s graduation….
Kitty said,
June 13, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Bunk, you ain’t got a thing if you ain’t got that swing.
K pownd, I remember when you were small enough to hold.
Voodoo, thanks. Blane and I did have ear to ear grins and teary eyes.
tysdaddy, oh yeah! Flaming red hair, tell him to keep it long until after the graduation.
TP, yeah, the football and baseball field, same sort of deal looking for your kid.
Thanks Ginny.
Stil, the camera worked well for close shots. I don’t have a zoom lens yet, so I really couldn’t get any shots of her from way up there.
A shame really because the photographer who was taking photos of the grads getting their diploma really messed up on Kara’s. He took a photo of his shoe.
Holly said,
June 13, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Congratulations, all!!
And hooray for first grandbaby, too!!
Kitty said,
June 13, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Thanks Holly.
Julie said,
June 14, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Kitty….how bittersweet, huh?? I always tear up when I read something written by a mom or dad describing how they feel when they see their kid accomplish something! To me, this is the kinda stuff that keeps us all going. I loved how you described your daughter in such vividly touching detail. Congratulations! What a cool mom you are! And quit makin’ me cry, damn it!
Joan said,
June 14, 2009 at 5:40 pm
That is really sweet. “That’s my girl.” I loved this part.
Kitty said,
June 15, 2009 at 5:23 am
Hey Julie. It is bittersweet, such a big moment and I just kept wanting it to hold off for a little while longer so I can catch up. Thing is I don’t think I’ll ever catch up, so I just sit back and watch and hope they come back home safely and often.
Hi Joan, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. That’s my favorite part, too.
She still smiles when I tell her she’s my girl and I love that about her.
dailytri said,
June 17, 2009 at 7:22 am
What an awesome moment for you! Your description made me gulp just reliving the feeling of my own daughter who graduated on June 7. I think it’s interesting that we both have daughters whose names start with K who graduated in maroon caps and gowns within days of each other.
Rassles said,
June 17, 2009 at 3:22 pm
So great. Congrats, graceful girl.
Kitty said,
June 19, 2009 at 12:59 am
That is interesting, Daily.
Rassles, she’s graceful and clumsy at the same time.