Tuesday, June 01, 2010

God Bid Yesterday Goodbye

Me and the girls after Coadster's graduation.

So, first please allow me to have a little vent. I just found out that it's going to cost me $450 to get the brakes fixed on my car.

Dear Universe,

Could you please let me get through a month without a costly mini-disaster? I realize these could all be real disasters and much, much worse, but I would still really love to have at least one month off without termite invasions, car problems or pipes freezing. Thank you.

Love, Churlita.

Okay, on to Saturday...It all started out well. I ran, took the girls a few places, came home and finished mowing the lawn and cleaning and then got ready for the graduation before I picked Stinky up from work. While at the store, I got the rest of the shopping done. When we got home, my aunt, my sister, my niece and one of Stinky's best friends were all waiting for us. We quickly changed and jumped into the car and headed to Carver Hawkeye Arena.

The throwing of the hats.

The arena smelled like livestock, and we later found out there was some kind of wrestling gig there, and apparently wrestlers smell like stinky horses now. Who knew?

The ceremony was nice and emotional and the principal gave a very pointed speech about the kids sticking to their guns when they know what they're doing is right and not caving to pressure...Even if it means losing your job, like he did. Wow. He got a standing ovation from the audience. The school board members on the stage, including the superintendent, remained seated.

Anyway, we were all so proud of our girl and I only teared up a tiny little bit when I saw her walk across the stage so tall and poised and I could still remember her little girl voice in my head telling me she couldn't wait to be a big, high school girl. Awwwww.

Originally, I figured my sister and aunt would want to leave right away after the ceremony, so I didn't even make plans for dinner afterward, but they said they wanted to take us out. Since any of the bigger restaurants were probably booked a long time ago, we just headed to Village Inn and were all very happy to eat there. It was a really lovely evening.

Three generations of quirky fun girls in one family. Woo Hoo!

Earlier in the day, I found out that my friend's fiance died after about a 7 month bout with cancer. It was heartbreaking. They were one of those couples you hang out with and think, "Hmmm. So that's what a healthy relationship looks like..." I'd never seen two people so happy together. I told everyone to let me know what I could do. Right before the graduation started, I got a call from G. telling me that our friend didn't want to be alone, and so all of our friends dropped what we were doing and went over to her house. I was planning on cleaning and getting ready for the party on Saturday night, but that really didn't seem all that important anymore.

We all sat outside on a beautiful night and cried and laughed and talked and drank (except me, because I had so much to do) with her until she felt okay to finally pass-out and go to sleep. It was an amazing, emotional and intense night and I was so glad I got to be there for her and felt lucky to have such an incredible group of friends.

9 comments:

SkylersDad said...

What a roller coaster ride, from graduation to a friends death. My best to you.

Ananda girl said...

Oh my! Beautiful family photo... beautiful girls with their beautiful mom. You made me tear right up Churlita. Congratulations to your wonderful Coadster!

Brando said...

Very sorry to hear about your friend's fiancee, that is very tragic. But congrats to Coadster, and what a great picture of the three of you.

laura b. said...

Congratulations to Coadster and your whole family! An amazing milestone.

How wonderful that you were able to be there for your friend too. I can't even imagine what she must be going through.

Tara said...

That is a terrific photo of you and your girls!

Ugh, I'm sorry your brakes will cost that much. Is that for all of them? It kills me when they charge for labor, because if they're experienced mechanics, then the labor time should be minimal and so should the cost. That's my way of thinking.

booda baby said...

I've had this window open for hours and all I can think of to say is: what a wonderful day you shared with us. Thank you, for the joy and the grief and all your love and friendship.

Mnmom said...

Life is just FULL isn't it? Death, and life, and graduations, and cancer, and campfires, and family, and lunch at the Village Inn, and men who take a stand.

Life's little moments aren't so little.

Churlita said...

Skyler's, Yeah. I think it was a lot of life lived in one day...Along with all the good and bad and transitions thrown in.

Ananda, Thanks. I'll give her your congrats. She definitely deserves them.

Brando, Thanks. It was very sad. And we have so few pics of the three of us together, I was happy that one turned out so well.

LauraB., Me either. She is seriously one of the strongest, most positive people I've ever met. Her youngest son has cancer too. It's just amazing how well she copes with it all.

Tara, Yeah. Especially since I just paid to have them fixed 2 years ago. I guess a caliper got jammed and wore down the pads and roters. Awesome.

Booda Baby, You're welcome. It was such an intense day, and yet so beautiful. I guess that's the gift: To see the beauty in all of it...No matter how hard it can be sometimes.

MnMom, Not usually. But the big moments can help us appreciate the little ones even more.

Johnny Rojo said...

I'm sorry to hear about your friend's fiance.

What a great message the principal gave! It reminded me of something the late Abe Osheroff, who was a Lincoln Brigade veteran, told me when I met him about ten years ago: "Heroism is when you are confronted with a choice between the doing the right thing and the easy thing, and you choose the right thing."