Is this really happening?

This morning is our Senior Day speaker, and the beginning of the formal graduation ceremonies. Last night, we had The Party, where The Commodores (yeah, Brick House) performed. That was okay, it was neat with all of the lights and such on the Peabody Lawn. I don't actually know who the speaker guy is for today, but it is something that I can't get over because going to this thing means that graduation is really happening.

I've come to the conclusion that I'm having so much trouble with this because I don't really have all that much to look forward to in the immediate future. Going home for the summer is going to be great....but it's exactly what I have done for the past three years. I'm working at the same job and living with my family again. I feel like I should be moving to where I am going to be living, like everyone else. Not having a job yet is also not exciting. Boooo! I guess it's time for a reality check and for me to realize that this is my last chance to hang out with my sister and parents for an extended period of time, so I should enjoy this while it lasts.

I'm not ready to leave everybody at Vandy, but I don't think I ever will be. My time is up here, so......I guess, bring on graduation?

Ouch!

This week at Vandy is known as "Beach Week" and a lot of the seniors go down to Destin for a few days for one last hurrah. We have a week break between finals and graduation, so it's perfect for this. Unfortunately, I couldn't go because of having to work and it being a tad expensive. So, I'm here at Vandy with everyone (literally everyone) I live with gone to the beach. It's kind of sad. When I'm sad, I like sports, so decided that driving up to UT to watch Vandy play them would be really fun. And it was! We ended up sweeping the series from them (they might be a football school, but we're a baseball school with smart kids, we like to say). The only downer was that I ended up with one of the more severe sunburns of my life. It's the kind where only the tops of your thighs get burnt because the rest of you wasn't as exposed to the sun. My arms are also quite burnt in an awkward sort of way. For now, I'm on a steady diet of Tylenol and aloe spray gel to make the pain stop. Hopefully the strange redness disappears before all of those pictures are taken on graduation day.....

A Blessing and a Curse

I'm graduating in 12 days. That's how long I have left to enjoy this with the people I love at Vandy. Kind of crazy. I've been thinking about it a lot lately, and realized that coming here for school has been a blessing in so many ways. Vandy has given me an amazing education, opportunities I never would have had, best friends, the best days of my life (really), and a chance to meet people from all over. I really couldn't have asked for more. At the same time, though, it's different than if I had chosen to go to a more regional school with more people from around one place. People would all be staying in the same area and I could have "friends from college" that I hung out with for years to come. However, coming to Vandy has meant meeting people from all over the country who will leave and go all over the country. That's the curse part of it...the people are great and you become so close. And then everyone goes in a million different directions. I will always have the memories of fun times, and at the same time, I don't think the memories are enough. I want to keep living the amazing times.

Guess I'll just have to create a "travel fund" so I can go around and visit everyone. That's what's been on my mind a lot lately--leaving the people here.

That's my bit of insight. In case you're wondering, I haven't cried about this yet, but my ability to hold it in is waning very, very quickly.

Groove is in the Heart

When I was in the fourth grade, we did a dance to this song. I remember loving the song...and the video. It's a picture of Early 90s amazingness.

"We're going to dance and have some fun."

Always Blue and Gray

I'm just now getting to the point where I can talk about the game on Monday night. It was rough, but still a proud situation for the city of Memphis. Though none of the players (save the ill-fated Andre Allen) are actually from Memphis, we are so proud of how they represented us during the tournament. If nothing else, I hope that Coach Calipari recognizes that free throw shooting is essential to winning championships. Any Tiger fan can tell you about our C-USA Championship game in 2005. Darius Washington will always be loved by Memphians, despite his missing free throws to win the C-USA Championship and go to the NCAA Tournament that year. So, long story short.....Memphis has lost 2 championships (though one more important than the other) in the past 4 years because of free throws. I'm surprised more people aren't talking about that, but perhaps Coach Cal will realize this and work on those free throws.

Either way, I realized on Monday that the best man may not always win.

Deep in the Heart of Texas

On a whim on Monday night, Audra convinced me to fly out to San Antonio with her for the Final Four. We're staying at her house in the boonies outside San Antonio and making the 45 minute drive into the city for lots of Final Four festivities. I'll update you on all of the basketball happenings later, but right now, I just need everyone to know the three things I've learned about Texas (okay, San Antonio) thus far.

1. George Strait is God. The radio stations play his songs every hour on the hour.
2. David Robinson of the Spurs is God. Apparently these people are polytheistic.
3. The sky is really bigger here. There, I admitted it.

More updates to come later.


GO TIGERS GO!

The Mudville Nine

This poem is one of my all-time favorites...to the point that I decided to memorize it in its entirety when I was in middle school (I got through the first part, but never finished. And, yes, I am in fact, THAT COOL.) There is a really great children's book version illustrated by Patricia Polacco, who is a wonderful writer and illustrator. I read that version to my students one time, and they loved it. Though the words are a bit over their heads, they were mesmerized. You don't have to be a baseball fan or an intellectual-type to understand this story. It's quite fitting, as yesterday was officially opening day!!

Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawerence Thayer

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day:
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, if only Casey could get but a whack at that -
We'd put up even money, now, with Casey at the bat.

But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,
And the former was a lulu and the latter was a cake;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
For there seemed but little chance of Casey's getting to the bat.

But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,
And Blake, the much despis-ed, tore the cover off the ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred,
There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.

Then from 5,000 throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.

There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt;
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance gleamed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped-
"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one," the umpire said.

From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore.
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone on the stand;
And its likely they'd a-killed him had not Casey raised his hand.

With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the spheroid flew;
But Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said, "Strike two."

"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered fraud;
But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.

The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville - mighty Casey has struck out.