My girl graduated from high school this past weekend. She wasn't feeling very well, but was glad to walk that aisle and receive her diploma nonetheless.
It was very difficult finding good seating in the auditorium, and I ended up in the very back, hoping I could get a few somewhat decent shots of Sabrina. When she got to her seat, I saw her looking around, trying to find all of us; with the hundreds of faces looking downward at their class, she couldn't spot us, which made me sad. I kept wanting to shout out, "We're here, Sabrina! Here we are!"
About 3/4 of the way through the ceremony, they finally came to the "S" surnames, and Sabrina's row walked to the front…
At last, I'd maneuvered myself to get a great photo of her receiving her diploma! I was poised and eager, holding my breath, and my shutter finger was ready to capture the shot of the day…
"Sabrina .. Stewart," the administrator called…
(There she is! My baby girl! My little strawberry-haired baby girl!)
CLICK.
Wha…???????????
WHAT THE POMP JUST HAPPENED?
I couldn't believe it. This was the one photo I was waiting for, and it was disastrous. I kept asking myself, "Will someone please remind me why I secretly sold Mike's left kidney so I could buy this lens?" over and over again. It wasn't until a few moments later that I realized it wasn't my lens, but another culprit:
The onstage flash and camera rig. What timing. Ugh.
I then recalled that last year the school sent out photos of the graduates to each family, and I was happy again. I'm sure they got a much better shot than I could have anyway.
So I continued on with watching my darling girl head back off the stage, diploma in hand, and back to her seat…
Congratulations, class of 2011!
Sitting in the back of the auditorium, I watched my Sabrina walk toward the exit…
Again, she started to look around (she had actually seen her proud dad earlier, but I was sitting in a different spot than he was), and I believe she was just about to give up spotting me, when suddenly – finally…
…My girl smiled at me. It was then that I started to cry. I put my camera down and held my hand to my heart and told her I loved her. She answered by putting her hand to her heart and told me she loved me too, and out into the sunshiny day she went, waiting for us to come find her.
I am so proud of Sabrina.
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Once outside, amid the sea of green gowns, we tried our best to spot her. Finally, Sophie had the idea of standing up on a concrete block to yell out, "Sabrina!!"
It worked. 🙂
(Her dad gives the best, warmest hugs.)
Pops was so proud…
In front of the courthouse…
(We'll be here again for Joonbug in 2018! I need to remember to take another picture exactly like this one when she's wearing her cap and gown.)
And yes, I'll take another of this one as well…
Sabrina, your dad and I are so very proud of all you've accomplished. You're a delight to us, and we love you with all our hearts. I know I speak for your Meems and Pops as well, and as dad said in your card, "Grandma and Grandpa are in Heaven, clapping and cheering the loudest."
Congratulations, my girl.