Graduation

What a great and awful time of year. Last night, the seniors graduated. For at least a month, they've been preparing for this milestone both physically (cleaning out lockers, cleaning out garages to host guests) and mentally (losing concentration in classes, preparing to say their goodbyes). They took their final exams this past week, and they had their senior graudation luncheon on Friday. I was honored to be their guest speaker, and I hope I delivered a message both entertaining and meaningful to them.

I have taught many of the students in this particular class four years in a row, in English 9, and then English 10, and then English 11, and many in Drama & Theatre and/or Advanced Writing, too. They're a great collection of human beings, and because I know them so well, saying goodbye has not been easy. My family and I attended several post-graduation open houses last night, and I spent over eight hours today traveling from house to house, responding to invitations to attend celebrations for graduates. I have a couple to attend tomorrow, too.

I hope for great things for these kiddos. They don't have to go on to fame and fortune, although good for them if they do. But I wish for them happiness and fulfillment in whatever careers they choose and whatever relationships they form. And I hope they return once in a while to say hello. I saw NUMEROUS alumni at the various houses I went to today and last night, and they all spoke of the nostalgia they now feel for high school--something they were all too eager to leave at the time of their graduation! One guy said, "If only I had appreciated it then like I do now." Perhaps this year's graduates will return someday to express similar sentiments of gratitude. Until then, I wish them good fortune. I'll miss you all!!

5 Recent Reasons to Be Happy

1. I just had a date with my wife! This is always a big deal since it involves the finding and hiring of a babysitter and the determination of a night that is available to both of us. First, we went to Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith and quite enjoyed it, actually. I had read mixed reviews, but we were both pleased. Some of the acting was stiff, but the special effects were great, and the overall effect was super. I myself was recognized as Obi-Wan Kenobi by quite a few patrons of the movie, too. And I wasn't even in a costume--they just thought I look like Ewan McGregor, I guess. Hmm. Afterward, we went out to Suite 49 for beverages and appetizers. On a school night! Wow--aren't we wild?
2. Summer is nearing. Not that my summer schedule will be any less hectic than my school-year one, necessarily. But it is always nice to take a rest from the grind of teaching and move on to a new grind for a few months. Spend some time outdoors. Attend a family reunion. Do some more PRACS studies. Progress with my Ph.D. program. That kind of stuff.
3. My students rock! Could they be better? I don't think so. The Drama & Theatre crew are finishing up writing original plays that they will stage and perform next week. The American Literature (college credit) kiddos just finished creating some remarkable multigenre research projects. The English 11 students are turning in literary analysis compositions on American short stories, and the ones I've read so far are good. And Riley and Talon and Cap crack me up with their weekly vocabulary assignments. They could just write boring, functional sentences, but they take the time to use their smarts and their imagination to spice them up, make them funny, and STILL be correct. What a hoot! I think Andrew's will be a doozy this week, too (in Chinese?!). What'll I do without them all summer?
4. There's been recent family contact, which is always nice. Last weekend my dad and stepmom were in town for my daughters' ballet recital, and this weekend our family is going to my dad and stepmom's home to attend my stepniece's wedding and my first-cousin-once-removed's graduation. It was fun to see dad's new fancy schmancy camper and pickup last weekend, too.
5. It's graduation season. I don't like having to say goodbye to wonderful students who are seniors. However, I like reminiscing with them, attending their open houses, and communicating with them post-graduation when they're no longer in a "student" position to me. This year's seniors have asked me to give the address at their pre-graduation formal luncheon. That will be a fun challenge. Several of the students in this year's senior class were my students in English 9, English 10, English 11, Drama & Theatre, AND Advanced Writing! That's a lot of Moberg to take in four years!! I love 'em all and will miss them next year.

Daughters' Ballet Recital

To put it a Minnesotan way: "Oh, fer kyoo-it!" It was, indeed, very cute to watch the girls dance last night in their ballet recital. All three of our daughters take ballet and tap dancing classes at the Nancy Pasley Ballet School in Grand Forks. The annual recital is held in May at the Chester Fritz Auditorium on the campus of UND, and it's always a multi-hour extravaganza just P-A-C-K-E-D with people. There were chuckle-inducing little people dances as well as truly beautiful older people dances. My dad and stepmother came to visit in order to see the ballet, and afterward we all went to Coldstone Creamery for homemade ice cream. I was s' proud of the girls, and they had such a good time, and it was s' good to see Dad and Beverly again. Sigh.