Page 49 - FDCC Pandemic Book

Living in a Pandemic: A Collection of Stories on Coping, Resilience & Hope
traditional ceremony, the loss of the public reflection on past success. This stopped me in my tracks. The sense of loss over the ceremony was my own. I was the one that would miss seeing her walk the stage. I was the one that would not get to celebrate her accomplishments publicly. I was the one that wouldn’t get to cry like a baby in the bleachers or shout my fool head off when her name was called and diploma delivered. I was robbed! I spent 17 1⁄2 years trying to master this parenting challenge, with the aforesaid moments as my promised reward. Sure, there were a few other rewards along the way, but Graduation Day was the Publisher’s Clearinghouse of paydays!
Armed with this recognition, I retooled. I refocused. I renewed. I recommitted to making sure that she, too, would have the lasting memories that matter most - those of intimate moments with friends and family celebrating and loving on her. We gathered video messages from loved ones and coaches that couldn’t celebrate the day with us in person, so that she would know they were with her. Our montage ranged from touching tributes to the blooper reel, and everything in between. I feel so fortunate that my girl has given me much to be proud of, but I was moved most to hear the warm words of love and friendship from her peers. She is a good friend. She is a kind human. Although not mutually exclusive, I choose this recognition over a handshake with the principal.
Determined, our brave village of mamas pulled together to graduate our girls from the garage. Six fine young ladies that had shared four special years donned their graduation caps, cords and gowns and processed up the driveway to Pomp & Circumstance. As planned, I cried. On an inflatable movie screen set up in the garage, the girls and their masked and socially distanced immediate families watched a virtual ceremony aired by our school district. We cheered as photos of our six lovelies, replete with their honors, accomplishments and chosen colleges, bounced across the screen. As the principal called their names, our girls approached the corner of the garage where the bicycles hung, to receive a makeshift diploma from their dads, while their moms waited anxiously for the handshake and hug. As planned, I whooped my fool head off for all of them.
Thereafter, we drove our graduate to the school, where the red carpet had been rolled out, to receive her real diploma via some DIY contraption that resembled a pizza peel. Our loved ones were able to watch the blessed event online, something that wasn’t available in years prior. A tribute to the wonderful community we live in, the next event was a Senior Send Off parade. I admit, the liability lawyer in me shuttered at the thought of gaggles of freshly graduated 17-19 year olds, piling into cars and driving around our neighborhood. What transpired, instead, was akin to a well-organized homecoming parade, with one or two seniors in each decorated vehicle, greeted by friends and neighbors that had set up in lawn chairs along the parade route. Reflecting on the festivities, this was by far the girls’ favorite part of
44